315/50R18 vs 295/55R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/50R18 | 295/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.4" | 30.8" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.20" | 6.39" | +3.0 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 295 mm | -6.3 % |
| Circumference | 95.5" | 96.7" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 663 | 655 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.20" | 15.39" | +4.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11.5" | 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 315/50R18. Fit 295/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,123 on the road, so it under-counts by 123. At a true 70 mph the first turns 774 times a minute, the second 765.