245/40R17 vs 235/45R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/40R17 | 235/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 25.3" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.86" | 4.16" | +7.9 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 235 mm | -4.1 % |
| Circumference | 77.6" | 79.6" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 816 | 796 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.36" | 12.66" | +7.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9" | 6.5–8.5" | 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 245/40R17. Fit 235/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,247 on the road, so it under-counts by 247. At a true 70 mph the first turns 952 times a minute, the second 929.