305/60R18 vs 295/65R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/60R18 | 295/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.4" | 33.1" | +2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 7.20" | 7.55" | +4.8 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 295 mm | -3.3 % |
| Circumference | 101.8" | 104.0" | +2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 622 | 609 | -2.1 % |
| Axle height | 16.20" | 16.55" | +8.8 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 305/60R18. Fit 295/65R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 91.9 mph | +1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,213 on the road, so it under-counts by 213. At a true 70 mph the first turns 726 times a minute, the second 711.