245/45R16 vs 235/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/45R16 | 235/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 25.3" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.34" | 4.63" | +6.6 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 235 mm | -4.1 % |
| Circumference | 77.5" | 79.3" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 817 | 799 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.34" | 12.63" | +7.3 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 245/45R16. Fit 235/50R16 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 | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.1 mph | +2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,231 on the road, so it under-counts by 231. At a true 70 mph the first turns 953 times a minute, the second 932.
What drivers reported
245/45R16 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 235/50R16.