295/60R18 vs 285/65R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/60R18 | 285/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.9" | 32.6" | +2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.97" | 7.29" | +4.7 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 285 mm | -3.4 % |
| Circumference | 100.3" | 102.4" | +2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 631 | 619 | -2.0 % |
| Axle height | 15.97" | 16.29" | +8.3 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 295/60R18. Fit 285/65R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.8 mph | +1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,203 on the road, so it under-counts by 203. At a true 70 mph the first turns 737 times a minute, the second 722.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 295/60R18. 285/65R18 carries 1 and 1 deaths.