245/45R20 vs 225/50R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/45R20 | 225/50R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.7" | 28.9" | +0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.34" | 4.43" | +2.0 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 225 mm | -8.2 % |
| Circumference | 90.1" | 90.7" | +0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 703 | 699 | -0.6 % |
| Axle height | 14.34" | 14.43" | +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 245/45R20. Fit 225/50R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,062 on the road, so it under-counts by 62. At a true 70 mph the first turns 820 times a minute, the second 815.
What drivers reported
245/45R20 carries 9 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 225/50R20.