Is 235/60R18 bigger than 225/60R18?

235/60R18 is 0.47 inches taller and 10 mm wider. In overall diameter that is +1.65%, which stays inside the ±3% rule of thumb for a substitution.

How much will 235/60R18 throw off my speedometer?

Every reading scales by 1.01650. An indicated 60 mph becomes 61.0 mph, and every 100 miles on the odometer is really 101.7 miles.

How much does 235/60R18 change ground clearance over 225/60R18?

The axle centerline moves by 0.24 inches — half the diameter change, because half the extra height sits below the hub and half above it.

Will 235/60R18 fit where 225/60R18 fits?

Nothing derived from the size code can answer that. Clearance depends on wheel offset, suspension travel and body dimensions that no tire size contains. This page tells you exactly what changes dimensionally, which is the part that can be calculated.

225/60R18 vs 235/60R18

235/60R18 is +0.47″ in overall diameter and +10 mm in section width against 225/60R18 — a diameter change of +1.65%, which stays inside the ±3% substitution rule. An indicated 60 mph would really be 61.0 mph.

Within 3%

Every dimension

Difference between 225/60R18 and 235/60R18
Dimension	225/60R18 → 235/60R18	Change
Overall diameter	28.63″ → 29.10″	+0.47″ (+1.65%)
Section width	225 mm → 235 mm	+10 mm (+4.44%)
Sidewall height	135.0 mm → 141.0 mm	+6.0 mm
Rolling circumference	89.94″ → 91.43″	+1.48″
Revolutions per mile	704.4 → 693.0	−11.4
Axle height / clearance	14.31″ → 14.55″	+0.24″

225/60R18225 mm

235/60R18235 mm

225/60R18 28.63″235/60R18 29.10″

Which is taller, 225/60R18 or 235/60R18?

235/60R18 is the taller of the two, at 29.10″ against 28.63″. The gap is 0.47 inches, or 12.0 mm.

Both are metric sizes, so neither states its height directly. Both figures below are derived from the section width, aspect ratio and wheel diameter in the code. 225/60R18 is 225 mm wide with a 135.0 mm sidewall on a 18″ wheel; 235/60R18 is 235 mm wide with a 141.0 mm sidewall on a 18″ wheel.

What the speedometer will read

Indicated versus actual speed after the size change
Speedometer reads	Actual speed	Error
25 mph	25.4 mph	+0.4 mph
40 mph	40.7 mph	+0.7 mph
55 mph	55.9 mph	+0.9 mph
60 mph	61.0 mph	+1.0 mph
70 mph	71.2 mph	+1.2 mph
80 mph	81.3 mph	+1.3 mph

Fitting 235/60R18 in place of 225/60R18 multiplies every speed and distance reading by 1.01650. Over 10,000 indicated miles the odometer is out by +165 miles.

Effective gearing moves by the same proportion. A vehicle with 3.73 axles running 225/60R18 would need 3.79 to keep the same engine speed on 235/60R18. Work it out for your own axle ratio.

Full specification of each size

225/60R18

Derived dimensions for 225/60R18
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	225.0 mm	8.86″
Sidewall height	135.0 mm	5.31″
Wheel diameter	457.2 mm	18.0″
Overall diameter	727.2 mm	28.63″
Rolling circumference	2,284.6 mm	89.94″
Revolutions per mile	437.7 / km	704.4 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	178 mm	7″

235/60R18

Derived dimensions for 235/60R18
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	235.0 mm	9.25″
Sidewall height	141.0 mm	5.55″
Wheel diameter	457.2 mm	18.0″
Overall diameter	739.2 mm	29.10″
Rolling circumference	2,322.3 mm	91.43″
Revolutions per mile	430.6 / km	693.0 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	178 mm	7″

Rim widths differ too: 225/60R18 is designed for 6.5″–8″ and 235/60R18 for 6.5″–8″. They share a measuring rim, so one wheel can usually carry either.

Can you swap one for the other?

Inside the ±3% rule

The diameter difference of +1.65% is within the ±3% that fitters use as the boundary for a substitution, so the speedometer, odometer and wheel-speed-derived systems stay close enough to calibration. The section width difference of +10 mm is a separate question and is the one that decides whether it rubs.

Neither figure says anything about physical fitment. Whether 235/60R18 clears the strut, the fender liner and the steering stops depends on wheel offset and suspension geometry that a size code does not encode. For maintenance rather than sizing, Car Basics covers tire care.