305/50R17 vs 325/45R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/50R17 | 325/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.0" | 28.5" | -1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 6.00" | 5.76" | -4.1 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 325 mm | +6.6 % |
| Circumference | 91.1" | 89.6" | -1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 695 | 707 | +1.7 % |
| Axle height | 14.50" | 14.26" | -6.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 9–12" | overlap 9–11" |
Both are approved on a rim 9" to 11" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 305/50R17. Fit 325/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 90 mph | 88.5 mph | -1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,830 on the road, so it over-counts by 170. At a true 70 mph the first turns 811 times a minute, the second 825.