235/55R14 vs 225/55R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/55R14 | 225/55R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.2" | 23.7" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.09" | 4.87" | -4.3 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 225 mm | -4.3 % |
| Circumference | 76.0" | 74.6" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 834 | 849 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.09" | 11.87" | -5.5 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 235/55R14. Fit 225/55R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,821 on the road, so it over-counts by 179. At a true 70 mph the first turns 973 times a minute, the second 991.