345/45R23 vs 325/50R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 345/45R23 | 325/50R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.2" | 35.8" | +1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 6.11" | 6.40" | +4.7 % |
| Section width | 345 mm | 325 mm | -5.8 % |
| Circumference | 110.7" | 112.5" | +1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 573 | 563 | -1.6 % |
| Axle height | 17.61" | 17.90" | +7.3 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 345/45R23. Fit 325/50R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,162 on the road, so it under-counts by 162. At a true 70 mph the first turns 668 times a minute, the second 657.