325/30R18 vs 305/35R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 325/30R18 | 305/35R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 26.4" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.84" | 4.20" | +9.5 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 305 mm | -6.2 % |
| Circumference | 80.7" | 83.0" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 785 | 764 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.84" | 13.20" | +9.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 9–12" | 8.5–11" | overlap 9–11" |
Both are approved on a rim 9" to 11" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 325/30R18. Fit 305/35R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.6 mph | +2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,284 on the road, so it under-counts by 284. At a true 70 mph the first turns 916 times a minute, the second 891.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 325/30R18. 305/35R18 carries 2.