Calculator

Tire Size Calculator

Compare two tyre sizes: overall diameter, sidewall height, revolutions per km and how far your speedometer will be off after the change.

T-02

The new tyre is 1.7 % taller: when the speedometer shows 100 km/h, you are really doing 101.7 km/h.

Current 225/45 R17New 235/40 R18Drawn to scale: seen from the side, standing on the same ground · seen from the front

225/45 R17235/40 R18Difference
Overall diameter 634.3 mm 645.2 mm 1.72 %
Sidewall height 101.3 mm 94.0 mm -7.16 %
Section width 225.0 mm 235.0 mm 4.44 %
Circumference 1,992.7 mm 2,027.0 mm 1.72 %
Revolutions per km 501.8 493.4 -1.69 %

Speedometer error

Your speedometer is calibrated for the current size. With the new size, your real speed is:

Speedometer showsActual speed
30 km/h30.5 km/h
50 km/h50.9 km/h
80 km/h81.4 km/h
100 km/h101.7 km/h
130 km/h132.2 km/h

How to read a tyre size

In 245/40 R18, 245 is the section width in millimetres, 40 is the aspect ratio (sidewall height as a percentage of width, so 98 mm here), R means radial construction and 18 is the rim diameter in inches. Overall diameter = rim × 25.4 + 2 × width × aspect / 100.

How much difference is acceptable?

Keep the overall diameter within about ±3% of the original. Beyond that the speedometer, ABS and stability control calibration drift, gearing changes noticeably and the tyre may rub on arches or suspension parts. A larger diameter makes the speedometer read low (you drive faster than shown); a smaller one makes it read high. Plus-sizing (bigger rim, lower profile) keeps the diameter while sharpening steering response at the cost of ride comfort and rim protection.

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