305/40R16 vs 285/45R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/40R16 | 285/45R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.6" | 26.1" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.80" | 5.05" | +5.1 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 285 mm | -6.6 % |
| Circumference | 80.4" | 82.0" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 788 | 773 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.80" | 13.05" | +6.3 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 305/40R16. Fit 285/45R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,192 on the road, so it under-counts by 192. At a true 70 mph the first turns 919 times a minute, the second 902.