235/70R17.5 vs 215/80R17.5
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/70R17.5 | 215/80R17.5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.5" | 31.0" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 6.48" | 6.77" | +4.6 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 215 mm | -8.5 % |
| Circumference | 95.7" | 97.5" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 662 | 650 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 15.23" | 15.52" | +7.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 6–8" | overlap 6.5–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6.5" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 235/70R17.5. Fit 215/80R17.5 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,194 on the road, so it under-counts by 194. At a true 70 mph the first turns 773 times a minute, the second 758.
What drivers reported
235/70R17.5 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 215/80R17.5.