285/35R21 vs 305/30R21
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 | 285/35R21 | 305/30R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.9" | 28.2" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.93" | 3.60" | -8.3 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 90.6" | 88.6" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 699 | 715 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 14.43" | 14.10" | -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 285/35R21. Fit 305/30R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,775 on the road, so it over-counts by 225. At a true 70 mph the first turns 815 times a minute, the second 834.