275/50R17 vs 295/45R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/50R17 | 295/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.8" | 27.5" | -1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.41" | 5.23" | -3.5 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 295 mm | +7.3 % |
| Circumference | 87.4" | 86.2" | -1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 725 | 735 | +1.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.91" | 13.73" | -4.8 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 275/50R17. Fit 295/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.8 mph | -1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,866 on the road, so it over-counts by 134. At a true 70 mph the first turns 846 times a minute, the second 857.