235/60R23 vs 235/55R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/60R23 | 235/55R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.1" | 33.2" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.55" | 5.09" | -8.3 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 235 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 107.1" | 104.2" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 591 | 608 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 17.05" | 16.59" | -11.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 6.5–8.5" | 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 235/60R23. Fit 235/55R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,729 on the road, so it over-counts by 271. At a true 70 mph the first turns 690 times a minute, the second 709.