295/75R16 vs 285/75R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/75R16 | 285/75R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.4" | 32.8" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 8.71" | 8.42" | -3.4 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 285 mm | -3.4 % |
| Circumference | 105.0" | 103.1" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 603 | 614 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.71" | 16.42" | -7.5 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 295/75R16. Fit 285/75R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,823 on the road, so it over-counts by 177. At a true 70 mph the first turns 704 times a minute, the second 717.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 295/75R16. 285/75R16 carries 38.