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TireShopper

Tire size calculator

Compare two tire sizes side by side: overall diameter, width, sidewall height, circumference and revolutions per mile, plus how your speedometer reading changes. Type sizes in any common format.

The size on your tires now.

The size you want to compare it with.

185/65R15 compared with 225/45R17

The new size (225/45R17) is 2.06% taller than the current size (185/65R15): about 0.5 in (13 mm) more overall diameter.

It is 40 mm wider, with a sidewall 19 mm shorter.

The current size is made for a 15-inch wheel and the new size for a 17-inch wheel, so changing between them means different wheels.

Dimensions of 185/65R15 and 225/45R17, with the difference
MeasurementCurrent (185/65R15)New (225/45R17)Difference (new minus current)
Overall diameter24.5 in (622 mm)25.0 in (634 mm)+0.5 in (+13 mm), +2.06%
Section width7.3 in (185 mm)8.9 in (225 mm)+1.6 in (+40 mm)
Sidewall height4.7 in (120 mm)4.0 in (101 mm)-0.7 in (-19 mm)
Circumference76.9 in (1952 mm)78.5 in (1993 mm)+1.6 in (+40 mm)
Revolutions per mile824808-17

These are nominal design dimensions. Real tires vary by brand, tread depth, wheel width, load and pressure.

Current: 185/65R15, 24.5 in tallNew: 225/45R17, 25.0 in tall

Is the difference small?

The overall diameter differs by 2.06%, which is within the common 3% rule of thumb.

The rule of thumb keeps a replacement size within about 3% of the original overall diameter. It covers diameter only. It is not a fit, load or safety check, because width, wheel diameter, load capacity and clearance matter too. Confirm any size change with your vehicle's owner's manual or a tire professional.

Speedometer difference

A taller tire covers more ground on every turn, but the speedometer counts turns as if the tire were still the original size. With the new size the speedometer reads low: when it shows 60 mph, your actual speed is about 61.2 mph. These figures assume the speedometer is accurate on the current size and use nominal tire dimensions, so treat them as estimates.

What the speedometer shows and the actual speed on 225/45R17, compared with 185/65R15
Speedometer showsActual speedDifference
20 mph20.4 mph+0.4 mph
30 mph30.6 mph+0.6 mph
40 mph40.8 mph+0.8 mph
50 mph51.0 mph+1.0 mph
60 mph61.2 mph+1.2 mph
70 mph71.4 mph+1.4 mph
80 mph81.6 mph+1.6 mph