225/50R18 vs 245/45R18

Switching from 225/50R18 to 245/45R18 decreases the overall diameter by 4.5 mm (0.7%). That is within the usual ±3% guideline.

225/50R18245/45R18Difference (mm / revs)
Section width225 mm245 mm+20.0
Sidewall height112.5 mm110.2 mm-2.3
Rim diameter457.2 mm457.2 mm+0.0
Overall diameter682.2 mm677.7 mm-4.5
Circumference2,143.2 mm2,129.1 mm-14.1
Revolutions467 per km470 per km+3.0

Speedometer effect

With 245/45R18 fitted on a car calibrated for 225/50R18, the real speed when the speedometer shows:

Speedometer showsActual speed
50 km/h49.7 km/h
80 km/h79.5 km/h
100 km/h99.3 km/h
120 km/h119.2 km/h

Smaller tires make the speedometer read higher than the actual speed. Most speedometers also read slightly high from the factory.

Before you change size

225/50R18 dimensions · 245/45R18 dimensions · Open in calculator