245/65R18 vs 235/70R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/65R18 | 235/70R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.5" | 31.0" | +1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 6.27" | 6.48" | +3.3 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 235 mm | -4.1 % |
| Circumference | 95.9" | 97.2" | +1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 660 | 652 | -1.4 % |
| Axle height | 15.27" | 15.48" | +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 245/65R18. Fit 235/70R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.2 mph | +1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,135 on the road, so it under-counts by 135. At a true 70 mph the first turns 770 times a minute, the second 760.