295/30R18 vs 305/30R18
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 | 295/30R18 | 305/30R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 25.2" | +0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 3.48" | 3.60" | +3.4 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 78.4" | 79.2" | +0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 808 | 800 | -0.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.48" | 12.60" | +3.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 8.5–11" | overlap 8.5–11" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 11" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 295/30R18. Fit 305/30R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 90.9 mph | +0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,095 on the road, so it under-counts by 95. At a true 70 mph the first turns 942 times a minute, the second 934.