295/50R18 vs 285/55R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/50R18 | 285/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.6" | 30.3" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.81" | 6.17" | +6.3 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 285 mm | -3.4 % |
| Circumference | 93.0" | 95.3" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 681 | 665 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.81" | 15.17" | +9.3 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 295/50R18. Fit 285/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,246 on the road, so it under-counts by 246. At a true 70 mph the first turns 795 times a minute, the second 775.