325/50R21 vs 305/55R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 325/50R21 | 305/55R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.8" | 34.2" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.40" | 6.60" | +3.2 % |
| Section width | 325 mm | 305 mm | -6.2 % |
| Circumference | 106.2" | 107.5" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 597 | 590 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 16.90" | 17.10" | +5.3 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 325/50R21. Fit 305/55R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,122 on the road, so it under-counts by 122. At a true 70 mph the first turns 696 times a minute, the second 688.