315/50R18 vs 305/50R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/50R18 | 305/50R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.4" | 30.0" | -1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.20" | 6.00" | -3.2 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 305 mm | -3.2 % |
| Circumference | 95.5" | 94.3" | -1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 663 | 672 | +1.3 % |
| Axle height | 15.20" | 15.00" | -5.0 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 305/50R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.8 mph | -1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,870 on the road, so it over-counts by 130. At a true 70 mph the first turns 774 times a minute, the second 784.