295/60R17 vs 305/55R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/60R17 | 305/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.9" | 30.2" | -2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 6.97" | 6.60" | -5.2 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 97.2" | 94.9" | -2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 652 | 668 | +2.4 % |
| Axle height | 15.47" | 15.10" | -9.3 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 295/60R17. Fit 305/55R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,765 on the road, so it over-counts by 235. At a true 70 mph the first turns 761 times a minute, the second 779.