305/25R18 vs 315/25R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/25R18 | 315/25R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.0" | 24.2" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.00" | 3.10" | +3.3 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 315 mm | +3.3 % |
| Circumference | 75.4" | 76.0" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 840 | 833 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.00" | 12.10" | +2.5 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 305/25R18. Fit 315/25R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.7 mph | +0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,082 on the road, so it under-counts by 82. At a true 70 mph the first turns 980 times a minute, the second 972.