305/60R18 vs 325/55R18
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 | 305/60R18 | 325/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.4" | 32.1" | -1.0 % |
| Sidewall | 7.20" | 7.04" | -2.3 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 325 mm | +6.6 % |
| Circumference | 101.8" | 100.8" | -1.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 622 | 629 | +1.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.20" | 16.04" | -4.3 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 305/60R18. Fit 325/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 90 mph | 89.1 mph | -0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,897 on the road, so it over-counts by 103. At a true 70 mph the first turns 726 times a minute, the second 734.