245/45R16 vs 225/50R16
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 | 245/45R16 | 225/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 24.9" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.34" | 4.43" | +2.0 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 225 mm | -8.2 % |
| Circumference | 77.5" | 78.1" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 817 | 811 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.34" | 12.43" | +2.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9" | 6–8.5" | 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 245/45R16. Fit 225/50R16 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 10,072 on the road, so it under-counts by 72. At a true 70 mph the first turns 953 times a minute, the second 947.