Comparison
235/55 R18 vs 255/55 R18
255/55 R18 is a wider variation of 235/55 R18 on the same 18-inch rim, adding 20 mm of tread footprint. This wheel and tire pairing moves rolling diameter well outside the usual OEM tolerance. Indicated speed will drift far enough that recalibration is worth considering. The wider section adds contact patch and lateral stability, while eating into fender and suspension clearance. Diameter delta falls in the cautious 3–5% range, where speedometer recalibration and a careful clearance check are worth doing.
TakeUseful when extra dry grip and stance matter more than a small fuel-economy hit.
Quick math: 255/55 R18 is 22.0 mm taller than 235/55 R18, shifting the speedometer by +3.07%.
Current Tire
New Tire
Ground line · scaled comparison
Slight Difference
Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended
Diameter change
+22.0 mm
3.07%
Speedometer at 100
103.1 km/h
+3.07% error
Ground clearance
+11.0 mm
ride height delta
Sidewall change
+11.0 mm
revs/km: 431.5
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/compare/235-55-r18-vs-255-55-r18Detailed comparison
| Metric | 235/55 R18 | 255/55 R18 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 715.7 mm | 737.7 mm | +22.0 mm (+3.07%) |
| Sidewall height | 129.3 mm | 140.3 mm | +11.0 mm |
| Circumference | 2.248 m | 2.318 m | +69.1 mm |
| Revs / km | 444.8 | 431.5 | -13.3 |
| Ground clearance | reference | +11.0 mm | +11.0 mm |
| Speedometer @ 100 km/h | 100.0 km/h | 103.1 km/h | +3.07 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 255/55 R18 — a +3.07% 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 +11.0 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.
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235/55 R18
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255/55 R18
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