315/60R23 vs 305/65R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/60R23 | 305/65R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 37.9" | 38.6" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 7.44" | 7.81" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 305 mm | -3.2 % |
| Circumference | 119.0" | 121.3" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 532 | 522 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 18.94" | 19.31" | +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 315/60R23. Fit 305/65R23 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 | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,192 on the road, so it under-counts by 192. At a true 70 mph the first turns 621 times a minute, the second 609.