305/65R17 vs 295/65R17
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 | 305/65R17 | 295/65R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.6" | 32.1" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 7.81" | 7.55" | -3.3 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 295 mm | -3.3 % |
| Circumference | 102.4" | 100.8" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 618 | 628 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 16.31" | 16.05" | -6.5 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 305/65R17. Fit 295/65R17 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 | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,843 on the road, so it over-counts by 157. At a true 70 mph the first turns 722 times a minute, the second 733.
What drivers reported
305/65R17 carries 3 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 295/65R17.