Question 1

Which tire is taller, 285/60 R18 or 265/60 R18?

Accepted Answer

285/60 R18 is taller by 24.0 mm (3.00%) compared with 265/60 R18.

Question 2

What is the diameter difference between 285/60 R18 and 265/60 R18?

Accepted Answer

285/60 R18 measures 799 mm overall diameter, 265/60 R18 measures 775 mm — a difference of 24.0 mm (3.00%).

Question 3

How much speedometer error does this change create?

Accepted Answer

Switching from 285/60 R18 to 265/60 R18 changes the speedometer reading by -3.00%. At an indicated 100 km/h, your true speed becomes about 97.0 km/h.

Question 4

Is 265/60 R18 a safe replacement for 285/60 R18?

Accepted Answer

Between 3% and 5% diameter difference — speedometer drift is noticeable. Consider recalibration and confirm clearance with your vehicle's manufacturer specification.

Question 5

What else should I check before changing tire size?

Accepted Answer

Beyond diameter and speedometer error, verify wheel offset (ET), rim width, hub bore, load index, brake and suspension clearance, and your vehicle's manufacturer specification. Local regulations may also limit how far you can deviate from OEM.

Metric	285/60 R18	265/60 R18	Difference
Overall diameter	799.2 mm	775.2 mm	-24.0 mm (-3.00%)
Sidewall height	171.0 mm	159.0 mm	-12.0 mm
Circumference	2.511 m	2.435 m	-75.4 mm
Revs / km	398.3	410.6	+12.3
Ground clearance	reference	-12.0 mm	-12.0 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h	100.0 km/h	97.0 km/h	-3.00 km/h

285/60 R18 vs 265/60 R18

Detailed comparison

Verdict: warning

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