315/60R20 vs 305/65R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/60R20 | 305/65R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.9" | 35.6" | +2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 7.44" | 7.81" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 305 mm | -3.2 % |
| Circumference | 109.6" | 111.9" | +2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 578 | 566 | -2.1 % |
| Axle height | 17.44" | 17.81" | +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 315/60R20. Fit 305/65R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 91.9 mph | +1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,209 on the road, so it under-counts by 209. At a true 70 mph the first turns 675 times a minute, the second 661.