Comparison

225/60 R17 vs 265/40 R18

Plus-sizing from 225/60 R17 to 265/40 R18 keeps overall diameter close to factory while opening room for a larger 18-inch wheel. This tire combination swings rolling diameter far enough to feel on the road. 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: 265/40 R18 is 32.6 mm shorter than 225/60 R17, shifting the speedometer by -4.65%.

Current Tire

225/60R17

New Tire

265/40R18
225/60 R17
265/40 R18

Ground line · scaled comparison

Slight Difference

Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended

Diameter change

-32.6 mm

-4.65%

Speedometer at 100

95.4 km/h

-4.65% error

Ground clearance

-16.3 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

-29.0 mm

revs/km: 475.7

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Detailed comparison

Metric225/60 R17265/40 R18Difference
Overall diameter701.8 mm669.2 mm-32.6 mm (-4.65%)
Sidewall height135.0 mm106.0 mm-29.0 mm
Circumference2.205 m2.102 m-102.4 mm
Revs / km453.6475.7+22.1
Ground clearancereference-16.3 mm-16.3 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h95.4 km/h-4.65 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 95.4 km/h after switching to 265/40 R18 — a -4.65% 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 -16.3 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

225/60 R17

Back to

265/40 R18

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Frequently asked questions