315/65R18 vs 295/65R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 315/65R18 | 295/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.1" | 33.1" | -3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 8.06" | 7.55" | -6.3 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 295 mm | -6.3 % |
| Circumference | 107.2" | 104.0" | -3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 591 | 609 | +3.0 % |
| Axle height | 17.06" | 16.55" | -13.0 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 315/65R18. Fit 295/65R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 70 mph | 67.9 mph | -2.1 |
| 90 mph | 87.3 mph | -2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,700 on the road, so it over-counts by 300. At a true 70 mph the first turns 690 times a minute, the second 711.