305/50R23 vs 285/55R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/50R23 | 285/55R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.0" | 35.3" | +1.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.00" | 6.17" | +2.8 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 285 mm | -6.6 % |
| Circumference | 110.0" | 111.0" | +1.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 576 | 571 | -1.0 % |
| Axle height | 17.50" | 17.67" | +4.3 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 305/50R23. Fit 285/55R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 90.9 mph | +0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,096 on the road, so it under-counts by 96. At a true 70 mph the first turns 672 times a minute, the second 666.