Comparison

245/40 R18 vs 245/45 R18

Going from 245/40 R18 to 245/45 R18 raises the aspect ratio by 5 points on the same 18-inch wheel. This wheel and tire pairing swings rolling diameter far enough to feel on the road. The taller sidewall adds cushioning over potholes and rougher roads, with a softer overall ride.

Indicated speed will drift far enough that recalibration is worth considering. The 3–5% diameter gap puts this in caution territory: doable on many cars, but verify clearance and consider recalibration.

TakeA comfort-leaning direction that's easier on wheels and suspension over rough surfaces.

Quick math: 245/45 R18 is 24.5 mm taller than 245/40 R18, shifting the speedometer by +3.75%.

Current Tire

245/40R18

New Tire

245/45R18
245/40 R18
245/45 R18

Ground line · scaled comparison

Slight Difference

Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended

Diameter change

+24.5 mm

3.75%

Speedometer at 100

103.8 km/h

+3.75% error

Ground clearance

+12.3 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

+12.3 mm

revs/km: 469.7

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Detailed comparison

Metric245/40 R18245/45 R18Difference
Overall diameter653.2 mm677.7 mm+24.5 mm (+3.75%)
Sidewall height98.0 mm110.3 mm+12.3 mm
Circumference2.052 m2.129 m+77.0 mm
Revs / km487.3469.7-17.6
Ground clearancereference+12.3 mm+12.3 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h103.8 km/h+3.75 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 103.8 km/h after switching to 245/45 R18 — a +3.75% 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

245/40 R18

Back to

245/45 R18

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Frequently asked questions