325/40R23 vs 305/45R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 325/40R23 | 305/45R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.2" | 33.8" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.12" | 5.40" | +5.6 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 305 mm | -6.2 % |
| Circumference | 104.4" | 106.2" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 607 | 597 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 16.62" | 16.90" | +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 325/40R23. Fit 305/45R23 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 | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,172 on the road, so it under-counts by 172. At a true 70 mph the first turns 708 times a minute, the second 696.