245/45R22 vs 235/50R22
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/45R22 | 235/50R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.7" | 31.3" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.34" | 4.63" | +6.6 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 235 mm | -4.1 % |
| Circumference | 96.4" | 98.2" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 657 | 645 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 15.34" | 15.63" | +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 245/45R22. Fit 235/50R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,186 on the road, so it under-counts by 186. At a true 70 mph the first turns 767 times a minute, the second 753.