325/45R18 vs 345/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 325/45R18 | 345/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.5" | 30.2" | +2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 6.11" | +6.2 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 345 mm | +6.2 % |
| Circumference | 92.7" | 95.0" | +2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 683 | 667 | -2.4 % |
| Axle height | 14.76" | 15.11" | +9.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 9–12" | 9.5–12.5" | overlap 9.5–12" |
Both are approved on a rim 9.5" to 12" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 325/45R18. Fit 345/45R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,240 on the road, so it under-counts by 240. At a true 70 mph the first turns 797 times a minute, the second 778.