255/70R15 vs 235/80R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/70R15 | 235/80R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.1" | 29.8" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 7.03" | 7.40" | +5.3 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 235 mm | -7.8 % |
| Circumference | 91.3" | 93.6" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 694 | 677 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 14.53" | 14.90" | +9.5 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 255/70R15. Fit 235/80R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,257 on the road, so it under-counts by 257. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 789.