335/45R21 vs 325/50R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 335/45R21 | 325/50R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.9" | 33.8" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.94" | 6.40" | +7.8 % |
| Section width | 335 mm | 325 mm | -3.0 % |
| Circumference | 103.3" | 106.2" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 614 | 597 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.44" | 16.90" | +11.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 9.5–12.5" | 9–12" | overlap 9.5–12" |
Both are approved on a rim 9.5" to 12" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 335/45R21. Fit 325/50R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,281 on the road, so it under-counts by 281. At a true 70 mph the first turns 716 times a minute, the second 696.