305/60R18 vs 285/65R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/60R18 | 285/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.4" | 32.6" | +0.5 % |
| Sidewall | 7.20" | 7.29" | +1.2 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 285 mm | -6.6 % |
| Circumference | 101.8" | 102.4" | +0.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 622 | 619 | -0.5 % |
| Axle height | 16.20" | 16.29" | +2.3 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 305/60R18. Fit 285/65R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.5 mph | +0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,055 on the road, so it under-counts by 55. At a true 70 mph the first turns 726 times a minute, the second 722.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 305/60R18. 285/65R18 carries 1 and 1 deaths.