345/45R18 vs 325/45R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 345/45R18 | 325/45R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.2" | 29.5" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.11" | 5.76" | -5.8 % |
| Section width | 345 mm | 325 mm | -5.8 % |
| Circumference | 95.0" | 92.7" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 667 | 683 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 15.11" | 14.76" | -9.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 9.5–12.5" | 9–12" | 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 345/45R18. Fit 325/45R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,766 on the road, so it over-counts by 234. At a true 70 mph the first turns 778 times a minute, the second 797.