315/65R17 vs 295/70R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/65R17 | 295/70R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.1" | 33.3" | +0.4 % |
| Sidewall | 8.06" | 8.13" | +0.9 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 295 mm | -6.3 % |
| Circumference | 104.1" | 104.5" | +0.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 609 | 606 | -0.4 % |
| Axle height | 16.56" | 16.63" | +1.8 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 315/65R17. Fit 295/70R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 50 mph | 50.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 70 mph | 70.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 90 mph | 90.4 mph | +0.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,042 on the road, so it under-counts by 42. At a true 70 mph the first turns 710 times a minute, the second 707.