275/45R18 vs 295/40R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/45R18 | 295/40R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.7" | 27.3" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.65" | -4.6 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 295 mm | +7.3 % |
| Circumference | 87.2" | 85.7" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 727 | 739 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 13.87" | 13.65" | -5.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–10" | 8.5–11" | overlap 8.5–10" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 10" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 275/45R18. Fit 295/40R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.5 mph | -1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,837 on the road, so it over-counts by 163. At a true 70 mph the first turns 848 times a minute, the second 862.