225/45R17 vs 235/55R17
New overall diameter
27.18″
was 24.97″
True speed at an indicated 60
65.3 mph
speedometer reads low
Revolutions per mile
742
was 808 · −66
Switching from 225/45R17 to 235/55R17? Everything that changes is below — sidewall, tread width, circumference, revolutions per mile and speedometer error at road speeds.
| Measurement | 225/45R17 | 235/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 24.97″ | 27.18″ | +2.20″ (+8.8%) |
| Sidewall height | 3.99″ (101.3 mm) | 5.09″ (129.3 mm) | +28.0 mm |
| Tread width | 225 mm | 235 mm | +10 mm |
| Circumference | 78.45″ | 85.38″ | +6.93″ |
| Revs per mile | 808 | 742 | −66 |
| Speedometer error | baseline | +8.8% | reads low |
Diameter overlay
225/45R17 235/55R17
Speedometer check
With 235/55R17 fitted, when the speedometer shows the indicated speed, your actual speed is:
25 mph shown
27.2 mph actual
35 mph shown
38.1 mph actual
45 mph shown
49.0 mph actual
55 mph shown
59.9 mph actual
65 mph shown
70.7 mph actual
75 mph shown
81.6 mph actual
Common questions
- Will 235/55R17 fit instead of 225/45R17?
- Not recommended. A 8.8% diameter change exceeds the 5% rule. Expect significant speedometer error, potential clearance and rubbing issues, and stress on ABS, stability control and drivetrain components. Your speedometer will read lower than your true speed. Overall diameter goes from 24.97″ to 27.18″, a change of +8.8%. As a rule of thumb, under 3% is safe, 3–5% needs a clearance check, and over 5% is not recommended.
- How far off will my speedometer read on 235/55R17?
- At an indicated 60 mph you would actually be travelling about 65.3 mph — a +8.8% error. The speedometer reads low, so you are going faster than it shows.
- What is the difference in revolutions per mile between 225/45R17 and 235/55R17?
- 225/45R17 turns roughly 808 revolutions per mile; 235/55R17 turns roughly 742. That is a change of −66 revolutions per mile, which is what shifts odometer and speedometer readings.