295/60R18 vs 305/55R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/60R18 | 305/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.9" | 31.2" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.97" | 6.60" | -5.2 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 100.3" | 98.0" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 631 | 646 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 15.97" | 15.60" | -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 295/60R18. Fit 305/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 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 9,772 on the road, so it over-counts by 228. At a true 70 mph the first turns 737 times a minute, the second 754.