285/55R23 vs 305/50R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/55R23 | 305/50R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.3" | 35.0" | -0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 6.17" | 6.00" | -2.7 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 111.0" | 110.0" | -0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 571 | 576 | +0.9 % |
| Axle height | 17.67" | 17.50" | -4.3 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 285/55R23. Fit 305/50R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 90 mph | 89.1 mph | -0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,905 on the road, so it over-counts by 95. At a true 70 mph the first turns 666 times a minute, the second 672.