245/50R17 vs 225/50R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/50R17 | 225/50R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.6" | 25.9" | -3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 4.82" | 4.43" | -8.2 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 225 mm | -8.2 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 81.2" | -3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 780 | +3.0 % |
| Axle height | 13.32" | 12.93" | -10.0 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 245/50R17. Fit 225/50R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 70 mph | 67.9 mph | -2.1 |
| 90 mph | 87.3 mph | -2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,704 on the road, so it over-counts by 296. At a true 70 mph the first turns 883 times a minute, the second 910.