295/50R17 vs 305/45R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/50R17 | 305/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.6" | 27.8" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.81" | 5.40" | -6.9 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 89.9" | 87.4" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 705 | 725 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 14.31" | 13.90" | -10.3 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 295/50R17. Fit 305/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,718 on the road, so it over-counts by 282. At a true 70 mph the first turns 822 times a minute, the second 846.