Comparison

225/60 R17 vs 275/40 R18

Switching from 225/60 R17 to 275/40 R18 is a plus-1 upgrade that wraps a shorter sidewall around a larger 18-inch wheel. This alternative fitment swings rolling diameter far enough to feel on the road. The speedometer error is noticeable and may warrant a recalibration if you rely on indicated speed. Less sidewall flex usually translates to crisper turn-in and a slightly stiffer ride over rough pavement. The 3–5% diameter gap puts this in caution territory: doable on many cars, but verify clearance and consider recalibration.

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

Quick math: 275/40 R18 is 24.6 mm shorter than 225/60 R17, shifting the speedometer by -3.51%.

Current Tire

225/60R17

New Tire

275/40R18
225/60 R17
275/40 R18

Ground line · scaled comparison

Slight Difference

Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended

Diameter change

-24.6 mm

-3.51%

Speedometer at 100

96.5 km/h

-3.51% error

Ground clearance

-12.3 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

-25.0 mm

revs/km: 470.0

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Detailed comparison

Metric225/60 R17275/40 R18Difference
Overall diameter701.8 mm677.2 mm-24.6 mm (-3.51%)
Sidewall height135.0 mm110.0 mm-25.0 mm
Circumference2.205 m2.127 m-77.3 mm
Revs / km453.6470.0+16.5
Ground clearancereference-12.3 mm-12.3 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h96.5 km/h-3.51 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 96.5 km/h after switching to 275/40 R18 — a -3.51% 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 -12.3 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

275/40 R18

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