225/45R15 vs 225/50R15
225/50R15 is outside the ±3% rule as a replacement for 225/45R15: the diameter differs by +3.86%, so the speedometer, odometer and ABS calibration will be off and clearance needs checking.
Speedometer and odometer
With 225/50R15 on a car calibrated for 225/45R15, the speedometer reads 57.8 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 3.9%.
| Speedo shows | Actual speed |
|---|---|
| 30 mph | 31.2 mph |
| 45 mph | 46.7 mph |
| 60 mph | 62.3 mph |
| 70 mph | 72.7 mph |
| 80 mph | 83.1 mph |
Other sizes close to 225/45R15
Questions
Can I replace 225/45R15 with 225/50R15?
225/50R15 is outside the ±3% rule as a replacement for 225/45R15: the diameter differs by +3.86%, so the speedometer, odometer and ABS calibration will be off and clearance needs checking.
What's the difference between 225/45R15 and 225/50R15?
225/50R15 is 0.89" taller and 0 mm wider; the sidewall is +0.44". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 62.3 mph.
Will 225/50R15 fit on 225/45R15 wheels?
Both use a 15" rim, so the wheel diameter matches; check the wheel's width range for a 225 mm tire and the fender clearance.