285/35R20 vs 305/30R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/35R20 | 305/30R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.9" | 27.2" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.93" | 3.60" | -8.3 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 87.5" | 85.5" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 724 | 741 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.93" | 13.60" | -8.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8–10.5" | 8.5–11" | overlap 8.5–10.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 10.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 285/35R20. Fit 305/30R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,767 on the road, so it over-counts by 233. At a true 70 mph the first turns 845 times a minute, the second 865.