295/70R16 vs 305/65R16
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 | 295/70R16 | 305/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.3" | 31.6" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 8.13" | 7.81" | -4.0 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 305 mm | +3.4 % |
| Circumference | 101.3" | 99.3" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 625 | 638 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.13" | 15.81" | -8.3 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 295/70R16. Fit 305/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,799 on the road, so it over-counts by 201. At a true 70 mph the first turns 729 times a minute, the second 744.