295/65R16 vs 305/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/65R16 | 305/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.1" | 30.4" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 7.55" | 7.20" | -4.6 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 97.7" | 95.5" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 649 | 663 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.55" | 15.20" | -8.8 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 295/65R16. Fit 305/60R16 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 | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,778 on the road, so it over-counts by 222. At a true 70 mph the first turns 757 times a minute, the second 774.