305/45R20 vs 285/50R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/45R20 | 285/50R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.8" | 31.2" | +1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.40" | 5.61" | +3.8 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 285 mm | -6.6 % |
| Circumference | 96.8" | 98.1" | +1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 655 | 646 | -1.3 % |
| Axle height | 15.40" | 15.61" | +5.3 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 305/45R20. Fit 285/50R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.2 mph | +1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,134 on the road, so it under-counts by 134. At a true 70 mph the first turns 764 times a minute, the second 754.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 305/45R20. 285/50R20 carries 9.