245/65R15 vs 235/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/65R15 | 235/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.5" | 28.0" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.27" | 6.48" | +3.3 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 235 mm | -4.1 % |
| Circumference | 86.5" | 87.8" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 732 | 722 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.77" | 13.98" | +5.3 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 245/65R15. Fit 235/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,150 on the road, so it under-counts by 150. At a true 70 mph the first turns 854 times a minute, the second 842.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 245/65R15. 235/70R15 carries 26 and 1 deaths.