315/50R24 vs 305/55R24
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/50R24 | 305/55R24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 36.4" | 37.2" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.20" | 6.60" | +6.5 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 305 mm | -3.2 % |
| Circumference | 114.4" | 116.9" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 554 | 542 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 18.20" | 18.60" | +10.3 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 315/50R24. Fit 305/55R24 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,222 on the road, so it under-counts by 222. At a true 70 mph the first turns 646 times a minute, the second 632.