305/50R18 vs 315/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/50R18 | 315/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 29.2" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 6.00" | 5.58" | -7.0 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 315 mm | +3.3 % |
| Circumference | 94.3" | 91.6" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 672 | 692 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.00" | 14.58" | -10.8 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 305/50R18. Fit 315/45R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,718 on the road, so it over-counts by 282. At a true 70 mph the first turns 784 times a minute, the second 807.