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Sidewall

285/65R23 vs 305/65R23

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

185 mm sidewall955 mm · 37.6"
285/65R23
198 mm sidewall981 mm · 38.6"
305/65R23

Side by side


Measure285/65R23305/65R23Change
Overall height37.6"38.6"+2.7 %
Sidewall7.29"7.81"+7.0 %
Section width285 mm305 mm+7.0 %
Circumference118.1"121.3"+2.7 %
Revs per mile537522-2.7 %
Axle height18.79"19.31"+13.0 mm
Approved rim width8–10.5"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 285/65R23. Fit 305/65R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph30.8 mph+0.8
50 mph51.4 mph+1.4
70 mph71.9 mph+1.9
90 mph92.5 mph+2.5

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,272 on the road, so it under-counts by 272. At a true 70 mph the first turns 626 times a minute, the second 609.

Everything about 285/65R23 · Everything about 305/65R23