245/70R17 vs 225/80R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/70R17 | 225/80R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.5" | 31.2" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.75" | 7.09" | +5.0 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 225 mm | -8.2 % |
| Circumference | 95.8" | 97.9" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 661 | 647 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.25" | 15.59" | +8.5 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 245/70R17. Fit 225/80R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,219 on the road, so it under-counts by 219. At a true 70 mph the first turns 771 times a minute, the second 755.
What drivers reported
245/70R17 carries 43 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 225/80R17.