315/65R18 vs 325/60R18
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 | 315/65R18 | 325/60R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.1" | 33.4" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 8.06" | 7.68" | -4.8 % |
| Section width | 315 mm | 325 mm | +3.2 % |
| Circumference | 107.2" | 104.8" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 591 | 605 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 17.06" | 16.68" | -9.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11.5" | 9–12" | overlap 9–11.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 9" to 11.5" 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 325/60R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,775 on the road, so it over-counts by 225. At a true 70 mph the first turns 690 times a minute, the second 705.