Comparison

245/40 R18 vs 265/40 R18

Stepping from 245/40 R18 to 265/40 R18 keeps the 18-inch wheel but widens the section by 20 mm. This swap trims or stretches rolling diameter by a small margin.

The speedometer offset is small but measurable; worth keeping in mind if you watch the dash closely. The wider section adds contact patch and lateral stability, while eating into fender and suspension clearance. Diameter change stays inside the conservative ±3% safety window — an OEM-safe fitment on most vehicles.

TakeReasonable performance-leaning swap as long as fender and suspension clearance check out.

Quick math: 265/40 R18 is 16.0 mm taller than 245/40 R18, shifting the speedometer by +2.45%.

Current Tire

245/40R18

New Tire

265/40R18
245/40 R18
265/40 R18

Ground line · scaled comparison

Excellent Fit

Within ±3% — safe for daily driving

Diameter change

+16.0 mm

2.45%

Speedometer at 100

102.4 km/h

+2.45% error

Ground clearance

+8.0 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

+8.0 mm

revs/km: 475.7

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Detailed comparison

Metric245/40 R18265/40 R18Difference
Overall diameter653.2 mm669.2 mm+16.0 mm (+2.45%)
Sidewall height98.0 mm106.0 mm+8.0 mm
Circumference2.052 m2.102 m+50.3 mm
Revs / km487.3475.7-11.7
Ground clearancereference+8.0 mm+8.0 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h102.4 km/h+2.45 km/h

Verdict: excellent

Within ±3% — speedometer, ABS and traction control should behave normally.

Speedometer impact

At a true 100 km/h, your dashboard will read 102.4 km/h after switching to 265/40 R18 — a +2.45% 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 +8.0 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.

Back to

245/40 R18

Back to

265/40 R18

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