295/40R18 vs 285/40R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/40R18 | 285/40R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.3" | 27.0" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.65" | 4.49" | -3.4 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 285 mm | -3.4 % |
| Circumference | 85.7" | 84.7" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 739 | 748 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 13.65" | 13.49" | -4.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 8–10.5" | 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 295/40R18. Fit 285/40R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,885 on the road, so it over-counts by 115. At a true 70 mph the first turns 862 times a minute, the second 872.