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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.

235/55R18 compared with 225/60R17

The new size (225/60R17) is 1.94% shorter than the current size (235/55R18): about 0.5 in (14 mm) less overall diameter.

It is 10 mm narrower, with a sidewall 6 mm taller.

The current size is made for a 18-inch wheel and the new size for a 17-inch wheel, so changing between them means different wheels.

Dimensions of 235/55R18 and 225/60R17, with the difference
MeasurementCurrent (235/55R18)New (225/60R17)Difference (new minus current)
Overall diameter28.2 in (716 mm)27.6 in (702 mm)-0.5 in (-14 mm), -1.94%
Section width9.3 in (235 mm)8.9 in (225 mm)-0.4 in (-10 mm)
Sidewall height5.1 in (129 mm)5.3 in (135 mm)+0.2 in (+6 mm)
Circumference88.5 in (2248 mm)86.8 in (2205 mm)-1.7 in (-44 mm)
Revolutions per mile716730+14

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

Current: 235/55R18, 28.2 in tallNew: 225/60R17, 27.6 in tall

Is the difference small?

The overall diameter differs by 1.94%, 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 shorter tire covers less 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 high: when it shows 60 mph, your actual speed is about 58.8 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 225/60R17, compared with 235/55R18
Speedometer showsActual speedDifference
20 mph19.6 mph-0.4 mph
30 mph29.4 mph-0.6 mph
40 mph39.2 mph-0.8 mph
50 mph49.0 mph-1.0 mph
60 mph58.8 mph-1.2 mph
70 mph68.6 mph-1.4 mph
80 mph78.4 mph-1.6 mph