325/35R20 vs 305/40R20
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 | 325/35R20 | 305/40R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.0" | 29.6" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.48" | 4.80" | +7.3 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 305 mm | -6.2 % |
| Circumference | 91.0" | 93.0" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 696 | 681 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 14.48" | 14.80" | +8.3 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 325/35R20. Fit 305/40R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,224 on the road, so it under-counts by 224. At a true 70 mph the first turns 813 times a minute, the second 795.