305/50R18 vs 295/55R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/50R18 | 295/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 30.8" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 6.00" | 6.39" | +6.4 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 295 mm | -3.3 % |
| Circumference | 94.3" | 96.7" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 672 | 655 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 15.00" | 15.39" | +9.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 8.5–11" | 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 305/50R18. Fit 295/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,256 on the road, so it under-counts by 256. At a true 70 mph the first turns 784 times a minute, the second 765.