285/50R20 vs 295/45R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/50R20 | 295/45R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.2" | 30.5" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.61" | 5.23" | -6.8 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 295 mm | +3.5 % |
| Circumference | 98.1" | 95.7" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 646 | 662 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 15.61" | 15.23" | -9.8 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 285/50R20. Fit 295/45R20 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 | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,754 on the road, so it over-counts by 246. At a true 70 mph the first turns 754 times a minute, the second 773.
What drivers reported
285/50R20 carries 9 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 295/45R20.