295/55R17 vs 315/50R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/55R17 | 315/50R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.8" | 29.4" | -1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.39" | 6.20" | -2.9 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 315 mm | +6.8 % |
| Circumference | 93.5" | 92.4" | -1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 677 | 686 | +1.3 % |
| Axle height | 14.89" | 14.70" | -4.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 8.5–11.5" | 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 295/55R17. Fit 315/50R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,874 on the road, so it over-counts by 126. At a true 70 mph the first turns 790 times a minute, the second 800.