265/40R18 vs 285/40R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/40R18 | 285/40R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.3" | 27.0" | +2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.17" | 4.49" | +7.5 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 285 mm | +7.5 % |
| Circumference | 82.8" | 84.7" | +2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 765 | 748 | -2.4 % |
| Axle height | 13.17" | 13.49" | +8.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 8–10.5" | overlap 8–9.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 8" to 9.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 265/40R18. Fit 285/40R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,239 on the road, so it under-counts by 239. At a true 70 mph the first turns 893 times a minute, the second 872.
What drivers reported
265/40R18 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 285/40R18.