285/45R17 vs 295/40R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/45R17 | 295/40R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.1" | 26.3" | -3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 5.05" | 4.65" | -8.0 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 295 mm | +3.5 % |
| Circumference | 85.1" | 82.6" | -3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 744 | 767 | +3.0 % |
| Axle height | 13.55" | 13.15" | -10.3 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 285/45R17. Fit 295/40R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 70 mph | 67.9 mph | -2.1 |
| 90 mph | 87.3 mph | -2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,702 on the road, so it over-counts by 298. At a true 70 mph the first turns 868 times a minute, the second 895.