295/40R18 vs 275/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/40R18 | 275/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.3" | 27.7" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.65" | 4.87" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 275 mm | -6.8 % |
| Circumference | 85.7" | 87.2" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 739 | 727 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 13.65" | 13.87" | +5.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 7.5–10" | overlap 8.5–10" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 10" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 295/40R18. Fit 275/45R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,166 on the road, so it under-counts by 166. At a true 70 mph the first turns 862 times a minute, the second 848.