295/70R18 vs 315/65R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/70R18 | 315/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.3" | 34.1" | -0.4 % |
| Sidewall | 8.13" | 8.06" | -0.8 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 315 mm | +6.8 % |
| Circumference | 107.6" | 107.2" | -0.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 589 | 591 | +0.4 % |
| Axle height | 17.13" | 17.06" | -1.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 8.5–11.5" | 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 295/70R18. Fit 315/65R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 70 mph | 69.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 90 mph | 89.6 mph | -0.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,960 on the road, so it over-counts by 40. At a true 70 mph the first turns 687 times a minute, the second 690.