315/60R18 vs 305/65R18
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 | 315/60R18 | 305/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.9" | 33.6" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 7.44" | 7.81" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 305 mm | -3.2 % |
| Circumference | 103.3" | 105.6" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 613 | 600 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 16.44" | 16.81" | +9.3 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 315/60R18. Fit 305/65R18 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 716 times a minute, the second 700.