215/55R16 vs 225/55R16
225/55R16 is taller than 215/55R16 by 1.71% — a diameter difference of 0.43″.
What changes between 215/55R16 and 225/55R16
Switching from 215/55R16 to 225/55R16 changes overall diameter by +1.71%, a taller tire by 0.43 inches. This lands inside the ±3% fitment safe zone, so most vehicles will accept the swap without rubbing, speedometer recalibration, or ABS/TPMS complications. Section width moves by +0.40″ (215mm → 225mm), which affects contact patch and fender-well clearance. Sidewall height shifts by +0.21″: a taller sidewall softens ride quality and adds off-road bump protection, with some loss of steering crispness. Revs per mile moves by -14, which translates directly to speedometer error — at an indicated 65 mph, actual speed becomes 66.1 mph. Both sizes share the same 16″ rim, so no wheel change is required — this is a pure tire-only swap.
| Spec | 215/55R16 | 225/55R16 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 25.31″ | 25.74″ |
| Section width | 8.46″ (215 mm) | 8.86″ (225 mm) |
| Sidewall height | 4.66″ (55%) | 4.87″ (55%) |
| Rim diameter | 16″ | 16″ |
| Circumference | 79.52″ | 80.88″ |
| Revs per mile | 797 | 783 |
Interactive comparison
275/65R18 or "33" for inch aliases215/55R16
- Diameter
- 25.31″ / 642.9mm
- Section Width
- 8.46″
- Sidewall
- 4.66″ / 118.25mm
- Circumference
- 79.52″
- Revs/Mile
- 797
225/55R16
- Diameter
- 25.74″ / 653.9mm
- Section Width
- 8.86″
- Sidewall
- 4.87″ / 123.75mm
- Circumference
- 80.88″
- Revs/Mile
- 783
Speedometer & Diameter Impact
At an indicated 60 mph, your actual speed is 61.03 mph (98.21 km/h). Your speedometer reads 1.71% low versus actual speed.