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Sidewall

305/65R22 vs 285/70R22

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

198 mm sidewall955 mm · 37.6"
305/65R22
200 mm sidewall958 mm · 37.7"
285/70R22

Side by side


Measure305/65R22285/70R22Change
Overall height37.6"37.7"+0.3 %
Sidewall7.81"7.85"+0.6 %
Section width305 mm285 mm-6.6 %
Circumference118.2"118.5"+0.3 %
Revs per mile536535-0.3 %
Axle height18.81"18.85"+1.3 mm
Approved rim width8.5–11"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 305/65R22. Fit 285/70R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph30.1 mph+0.1
50 mph50.1 mph+0.1
70 mph70.2 mph+0.2
90 mph90.2 mph+0.2

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,026 on the road, so it under-counts by 26. At a true 70 mph the first turns 626 times a minute, the second 624.

Everything about 305/65R22 · Everything about 285/70R22