Comparison

225/50 R17 vs 275/40 R18

Plus-sizing from 225/50 R17 to 275/40 R18 keeps overall diameter close to factory while opening room for a larger 18-inch wheel. This wheel and tire pairing moves rolling diameter well outside the usual OEM tolerance. Expect a more planted steering feel, at the cost of some of the cushioning a taller sidewall provides.

The speedometer error is noticeable and may warrant a recalibration if you rely on indicated speed. Diameter delta falls in the cautious 3–5% range, where speedometer recalibration and a careful clearance check are worth doing.

TakeCommon upgrade for sportier handling and a tighter wheel-gap look on the same vehicle.

Quick math: 275/40 R18 is 20.4 mm taller than 225/50 R17, shifting the speedometer by +3.11%.

Current Tire

225/50R17

New Tire

275/40R18
225/50 R17
275/40 R18

Ground line · scaled comparison

Slight Difference

Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended

Diameter change

+20.4 mm

3.11%

Speedometer at 100

103.1 km/h

+3.11% error

Ground clearance

+10.2 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

-2.5 mm

revs/km: 470.0

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Detailed comparison

Metric225/50 R17275/40 R18Difference
Overall diameter656.8 mm677.2 mm+20.4 mm (+3.11%)
Sidewall height112.5 mm110.0 mm-2.5 mm
Circumference2.063 m2.127 m+64.1 mm
Revs / km484.6470.0-14.6
Ground clearancereference+10.2 mm+10.2 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h103.1 km/h+3.11 km/h

Verdict: warning

Between 3% and 5% — noticeable speedometer drift; recalibration may be advisable.

Speedometer impact

At a true 100 km/h, your dashboard will read 103.1 km/h after switching to 275/40 R18 — a +3.11% offset. Use the speedometer error calculator to recheck for other indicated speeds, and the speedometer error guide for the full background.

Ground clearance change

The new tire's half-diameter changes ride height by +10.2 mm. Small differences are absorbed by suspension travel, but anything beyond ±10 mm can affect headlight aim, fender clearance and bump-stop margin. See the plus-sizing guide before committing.

Back to

225/50 R17

Back to

275/40 R18

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Frequently asked questions