345/55R18 vs 325/55R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 345/55R18 | 325/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.9" | 32.1" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 7.47" | 7.04" | -5.8 % |
| Section width | 345 mm | 325 mm | -5.8 % |
| Circumference | 103.5" | 100.8" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 612 | 629 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 16.47" | 16.04" | -11.0 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 345/55R18. Fit 325/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,737 on the road, so it over-counts by 263. At a true 70 mph the first turns 714 times a minute, the second 734.