315/50R21 vs 335/45R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/50R21 | 335/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.4" | 32.9" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 6.20" | 5.94" | -4.3 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 335 mm | +6.3 % |
| Circumference | 104.9" | 103.3" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 604 | 614 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 16.70" | 16.44" | -6.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11.5" | 9.5–12.5" | overlap 9.5–11.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 9.5" to 11.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 315/50R21. Fit 335/45R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,841 on the road, so it over-counts by 159. At a true 70 mph the first turns 704 times a minute, the second 716.