235/35R17 vs 225/40R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/35R17 | 225/40R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.5" | 24.1" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.24" | 3.54" | +9.4 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 225 mm | -4.3 % |
| Circumference | 73.8" | 75.7" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 859 | 837 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.74" | 12.04" | +7.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 6–8.5" | overlap 6.5–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6.5" 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 235/35R17. Fit 225/40R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,260 on the road, so it under-counts by 260. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1002 times a minute, the second 977.