245/45R23 vs 235/50R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/45R23 | 235/50R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.7" | 32.3" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.34" | 4.63" | +6.6 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 235 mm | -4.1 % |
| Circumference | 99.5" | 101.3" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 637 | 625 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.84" | 16.13" | +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 245/45R23. Fit 235/50R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,180 on the road, so it under-counts by 180. At a true 70 mph the first turns 743 times a minute, the second 730.