235/80R17.5 vs 225/80R17.5
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/80R17.5 | 225/80R17.5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.3" | 31.7" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 7.40" | 7.09" | -4.3 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 225 mm | -4.3 % |
| Circumference | 101.5" | 99.5" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 624 | 637 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.15" | 15.84" | -8.0 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 235/80R17.5. Fit 225/80R17.5 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,805 on the road, so it over-counts by 195. At a true 70 mph the first turns 728 times a minute, the second 743.