325/45R21 vs 345/45R21
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 | 325/45R21 | 345/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.5" | 33.2" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 6.11" | +6.2 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 345 mm | +6.2 % |
| Circumference | 102.2" | 104.4" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 620 | 607 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 16.26" | 16.61" | +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 325/45R21. Fit 345/45R21 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 | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,218 on the road, so it under-counts by 218. At a true 70 mph the first turns 724 times a minute, the second 708.