235/45R16 vs 225/50R16
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 | 235/45R16 | 225/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.3" | 24.9" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.16" | 4.43" | +6.4 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 225 mm | -4.3 % |
| Circumference | 76.4" | 78.1" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 829 | 811 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.16" | 12.43" | +6.8 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 235/45R16. Fit 225/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,218 on the road, so it under-counts by 218. At a true 70 mph the first turns 967 times a minute, the second 947.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 235/45R16. 225/50R16 carries 13.