325/40R21 vs 305/45R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 325/40R21 | 305/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.2" | 31.8" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.12" | 5.40" | +5.6 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 305 mm | -6.2 % |
| Circumference | 98.1" | 99.9" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 646 | 634 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.62" | 15.90" | +7.3 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 325/40R21. Fit 305/45R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,183 on the road, so it under-counts by 183. At a true 70 mph the first turns 753 times a minute, the second 740.