355/45R21 vs 345/50R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 355/45R21 | 345/50R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.6" | 34.6" | +3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.29" | 6.79" | +8.0 % |
| Section width | 355 mm | 345 mm | -2.8 % |
| Circumference | 105.5" | 108.6" | +3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 601 | 583 | -3.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.79" | 17.29" | +12.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 10–13" | 9.5–12.5" | overlap 10–12.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 10" to 12.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 355/45R21. Fit 345/50R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 70 mph | 72.1 mph | +2.1 |
| 90 mph | 92.7 mph | +2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,299 on the road, so it under-counts by 299. At a true 70 mph the first turns 701 times a minute, the second 680.