305/50R18 vs 325/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/50R18 | 325/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 29.5" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 6.00" | 5.76" | -4.1 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 325 mm | +6.6 % |
| Circumference | 94.3" | 92.7" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 672 | 683 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 15.00" | 14.76" | -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 305/50R18. Fit 325/45R18 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 | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.5 mph | -1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,836 on the road, so it over-counts by 164. At a true 70 mph the first turns 784 times a minute, the second 797.