295/55R16 vs 305/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/55R16 | 305/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.8" | 29.2" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.39" | 6.60" | +3.4 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 90.4" | 91.8" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 701 | 690 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.39" | 14.60" | +5.5 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 295/55R16. Fit 305/55R16 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 | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,150 on the road, so it under-counts by 150. At a true 70 mph the first turns 818 times a minute, the second 806.