225/80R14 vs 215/80R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/80R14 | 215/80R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.2" | 27.5" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 7.09" | 6.77" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 215 mm | -4.4 % |
| Circumference | 88.5" | 86.5" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 716 | 732 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 14.09" | 13.77" | -8.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 6–8" | overlap 6–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/80R14. Fit 215/80R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,776 on the road, so it over-counts by 224. At a true 70 mph the first turns 835 times a minute, the second 854.