255/35R23 vs 235/40R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/35R23 | 235/40R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 30.4" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 3.51" | 3.70" | +5.3 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 235 mm | -7.8 % |
| Circumference | 94.3" | 95.5" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 672 | 663 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.01" | 15.20" | +4.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 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 255/35R23. Fit 235/40R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,125 on the road, so it under-counts by 125. At a true 70 mph the first turns 784 times a minute, the second 774.