235/50R16 vs 245/45R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/50R16 | 245/45R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 24.7" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.63" | 4.34" | -6.2 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 245 mm | +4.3 % |
| Circumference | 79.3" | 77.5" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 799 | 817 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.63" | 12.34" | -7.3 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 235/50R16. Fit 245/45R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,774 on the road, so it over-counts by 226. At a true 70 mph the first turns 932 times a minute, the second 953.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 235/50R16. 245/45R16 carries 1.