225/85R16 vs 225/80R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/85R16 | 225/80R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.1" | 30.2" | -2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 7.53" | 7.09" | -5.9 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 225 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 97.6" | 94.8" | -2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 649 | 668 | +2.9 % |
| Axle height | 15.53" | 15.09" | -11.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 6–8.5" | overlap 6–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 8.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 225/85R16. Fit 225/80R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.4 mph | -2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,715 on the road, so it over-counts by 285. At a true 70 mph the first turns 758 times a minute, the second 780.