235/45R15 vs 215/50R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/45R15 | 215/50R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.3" | 23.5" | +0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.16" | 4.23" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 215 mm | -8.5 % |
| Circumference | 73.3" | 73.7" | +0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 865 | 860 | -0.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.66" | 11.73" | +1.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 6–8" | overlap 6.5–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6.5" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 235/45R15. Fit 215/50R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.5 mph | +0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,059 on the road, so it under-counts by 59. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1009 times a minute, the second 1003.