335/40R18 vs 315/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 335/40R18 | 315/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.6" | 29.2" | +2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.28" | 5.58" | +5.8 % |
| Section width | 335 mm | 315 mm | -6.0 % |
| Circumference | 89.7" | 91.6" | +2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 706 | 692 | -2.1 % |
| Axle height | 14.28" | 14.58" | +7.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 9.5–12.5" | 8.5–11.5" | overlap 9.5–11.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 9.5" to 11.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 335/40R18. Fit 315/45R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 91.9 mph | +1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,214 on the road, so it under-counts by 214. At a true 70 mph the first turns 824 times a minute, the second 807.