285/55R24 vs 305/50R24
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 | 285/55R24 | 305/50R24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 36.3" | 36.0" | -0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 6.17" | 6.00" | -2.7 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 114.2" | 113.1" | -0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 555 | 560 | +0.9 % |
| Axle height | 18.17" | 18.00" | -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 285/55R24. Fit 305/50R24 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 | 69.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 90 mph | 89.2 mph | -0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,908 on the road, so it over-counts by 92. At a true 70 mph the first turns 647 times a minute, the second 653.