235/45R15 vs 245/40R15
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 | 235/45R15 | 245/40R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.3" | 22.7" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.16" | 3.86" | -7.3 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 245 mm | +4.3 % |
| Circumference | 73.3" | 71.4" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 865 | 888 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.66" | 11.36" | -7.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 7–9" | overlap 7–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" 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 235/45R15. Fit 245/40R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,738 on the road, so it over-counts by 262. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1009 times a minute, the second 1036.