235/80R21 vs 225/85R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/80R21 | 225/85R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.8" | 36.1" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 7.40" | 7.53" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 225 mm | -4.3 % |
| Circumference | 112.5" | 113.3" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 563 | 559 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 17.90" | 18.03" | +3.3 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 235/80R21. Fit 225/85R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,071 on the road, so it under-counts by 71. At a true 70 mph the first turns 657 times a minute, the second 653.