305/65R18 vs 325/60R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 305/65R18 | 325/60R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.6" | 33.4" | -0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 7.81" | 7.68" | -1.6 % |
| Section width | 305 mm | 325 mm | +6.6 % |
| Circumference | 105.6" | 104.8" | -0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 600 | 605 | +0.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.81" | 16.68" | -3.3 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 305/65R18. Fit 325/60R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 50 mph | 49.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 70 mph | 69.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 90 mph | 89.3 mph | -0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,924 on the road, so it over-counts by 76. At a true 70 mph the first turns 700 times a minute, the second 705.