345/60R21 vs 325/65R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 345/60R21 | 325/65R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 37.3" | 37.6" | +0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 8.15" | 8.32" | +2.1 % |
| Section width | 345 mm | 325 mm | -5.8 % |
| Circumference | 117.2" | 118.2" | +0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 541 | 536 | -0.9 % |
| Axle height | 18.65" | 18.82" | +4.3 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 345/60R21. Fit 325/65R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.8 mph | +0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,090 on the road, so it under-counts by 90. At a true 70 mph the first turns 631 times a minute, the second 625.