235/65R21 vs 245/60R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/65R21 | 245/60R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.0" | 32.6" | -1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 6.01" | 5.79" | -3.8 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 245 mm | +4.3 % |
| Circumference | 103.8" | 102.3" | -1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 611 | 619 | +1.4 % |
| Axle height | 16.51" | 16.29" | -5.8 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 235/65R21. Fit 245/60R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.8 mph | -1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,863 on the road, so it over-counts by 137. At a true 70 mph the first turns 712 times a minute, the second 722.