255/50R19 vs 235/50R19
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/50R19 | 235/50R19 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.0" | 28.3" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.02" | 4.63" | -7.8 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 235 mm | -7.8 % |
| Circumference | 91.2" | 88.8" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 695 | 714 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 14.52" | 14.13" | -10.0 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 255/50R19. Fit 235/50R19 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,729 on the road, so it over-counts by 271. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 833.