185/50R18 vs 185/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/50R18 | 185/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 24.6" | -2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 3.64" | 3.28" | -10.0 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 185 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 79.4" | 77.1" | -2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 798 | 821 | +2.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.64" | 12.28" | -9.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 5–6.5" | overlap 5–6.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 5" to 6.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 185/50R18. Fit 185/45R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.4 mph | -2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,712 on the road, so it over-counts by 288. At a true 70 mph the first turns 931 times a minute, the second 958.