285/55R17 vs 305/55R17
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 | 285/55R17 | 305/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.3" | 30.2" | +3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.17" | 6.60" | +7.0 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 92.2" | 94.9" | +3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 687 | 668 | -3.0 % |
| Axle height | 14.67" | 15.10" | +11.0 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 285/55R17. Fit 305/55R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 70 mph | 72.1 mph | +2.1 |
| 90 mph | 92.7 mph | +2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,295 on the road, so it under-counts by 295. At a true 70 mph the first turns 802 times a minute, the second 779.