285/65R18 vs 305/60R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/65R18 | 305/60R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.6" | 32.4" | -0.5 % |
| Sidewall | 7.29" | 7.20" | -1.2 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 102.4" | 101.8" | -0.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 619 | 622 | +0.5 % |
| Axle height | 16.29" | 16.20" | -2.3 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 285/65R18. Fit 305/60R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 50 mph | 49.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 70 mph | 69.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 90 mph | 89.5 mph | -0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,946 on the road, so it over-counts by 54. At a true 70 mph the first turns 722 times a minute, the second 726.
What drivers reported
285/65R18 carries 1 complaints and 1 deaths. Nobody has filed one naming 305/60R18.