17-inch vs 18-inch rims · tyre size comparison
265/70 R17 vs 265/60 R18
265/60 R18 is 27.6 mm (1.09 in) shorter than 265/70 R17, a -3.44% difference in overall diameter. That is just outside the ±3% limit commonly used to screen a tire size change, so expect a noticeable speedometer error; it is a nominal calculation, not a fitment approval.
- Diameter difference
- -27.6 mm
- -1.09 in · -3.44%
- Indicated 70 mph
- 67.6 mph
- Actual speed on 265/60 R18, if the speedometer was accurate on 265/70 R17.
- Sidewall height
- -26.5 mm
- 185.5 mm to 159 mm.
Dimensions side by side
| Measurement | 265/70 R17 | 265/60 R18 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 802.8 mm31.61 in | 775.2 mm30.52 in | -27.6 mm (-3.44%)-1.09 in |
| Section width | 265 mm10.43 in | 265 mm10.43 in | 0 mm0 in |
| Sidewall height | 185.5 mm7.3 in | 159 mm6.26 in | -26.5 mm-1.04 in |
| Circumference | 2,522.07 mm99.29 in | 2,435.36 mm95.88 in | -86.71 mm-3.41 in |
| Rim diameter | 431.8 mm17 in | 457.2 mm18 in | +25.4 mm+1 in |
| Revolutions per mile | 638.1 | 660.82 | +22.72 |
| Revolutions per km | 396.5 | 410.62 | +14.12 |
Calculated from the nominal size codes, without load or tread wear. Real tyres vary by model, rim width and pressure, so the exact tyre's published dimensions take priority.
Speedometer with 265/60 R18
If the speedometer was accurate on 265/70 R17, fitting 265/60 R18 means the car is travelling 3.44% slower than it shows, and the odometer over-records distance by about the same amount.
| Speedometer shows | Actual on 265/60 R18 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 28.97 mph | -1.03 mph |
| 50 mph | 48.28 mph | -1.72 mph |
| 60 mph | 57.94 mph | -2.06 mph |
| 70 mph | 67.59 mph | -2.41 mph |
| 50 km/h | 48.28 km/h | -1.72 km/h |
| 100 km/h | 96.56 km/h | -3.44 km/h |
UN ECE Regulation 39, used in the UK and EU, does not allow a speedometer to show less than the true speed, so many read slightly high from the factory. A shorter tyre adds to it. Calibration varies by car; these figures are the tyre-size effect only.
What changes from 265/70 R17 to 265/60 R18
Wheels
These sizes need different wheels: 17-inch for 265/70 R17 and 18-inch for 265/60 R18. The larger wheel usually weighs a little more; the smaller one must still clear the brake calipers. Check rim width, offset and load rating for whichever wheel you fit.
Sidewall and ride comfort
265/60 R18 has 26.5 mm less sidewall (159 vs 185.5 mm). A shorter sidewall usually sharpens steering response, but rides noticeably firmer and leaves the rim more exposed to potholes and kerbs.
Contact width
Both are 265 mm in nominal section width, so the tread is about as wide. Contact patch area is set mostly by load and pressure, so grip differences come more from the tyre model than this size change.
Wheel well clearance
Ride height changes by about -13.8 mm, and the top of the tyre moves the same distance away from the arch. On the same wheel, the sidewalls stay in roughly the same place side to side. A smaller tyre rarely creates new rubbing.
Gearing
The effective final drive changes by +3.56%: 3,000 rpm at a given road speed becomes about 3,110 rpm. Gearing gets noticeably shorter, so acceleration in each gear sharpens and cruising revs rise.
ABS, stability control and AWD
These systems compare wheel speeds. Fit the same size on both ends of an axle; with a 3.4% diameter gap, never mix 265/70 R17 and 265/60 R18 on an AWD car, and follow the car maker's rolling-circumference limits, which can be much tighter than 3%.
General tendencies from the nominal numbers, not a test of any tyre. Load index, speed rating, tyre construction and the car's approved sizes matter more than these rules of thumb.
Explained in our guides
- Plus-sizing wheels: tyre diameter and speedometer changesWork through a 17 to 18 inch wheel change, compare tyre diameters and speedometer effects, and understand why a 3% rule cannot approve fitment.
- Staggered vs square wheels: tyres, rotation and AWDCompare square and staggered wheel setups, calculate front-to-rear tyre diameter, and understand rotation limits and all-wheel-drive requirements.
- How to read a tyre size, load index and sidewall markingsDecode tyre width, aspect ratio, rim diameter, load and speed markings, then calculate sidewall height and diameter using a 225/45 R17 example.
Cars in our guides using these sizes
Factory trims and popular community setups from our fitment guides. A popular setup is not a factory approval; each guide explains its trims, axles and clearance limits.
265/70 R17
- Chevrolet Colorado 2nd gen (North America) (2015–2022)Popular setup
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 GMT800 (1999–2007)Factory and popular setup
- Dodge Ram 1500 3rd gen (DR) (2002–2008)Factory trim
- Ford Bronco 6th gen, non-Raptor (2021–present)Factory trim
- Ford F-150 12th generation (2009–2014)Factory trim
- Ford F-150 13th gen (2015–2020)Factory trim
- Ford F-150 14th gen (2021–present)Factory trim
- Nissan Navara / NP300 D23 (2014–present)Popular setup
- Toyota 4Runner 4th gen / N210 (2003–2009)Popular setup
- Toyota 4Runner 5th gen (N280) (2010–2024)Factory and popular setup
- Toyota FJ Cruiser XJ10 (2006–2022)Factory trim
- Toyota Hilux AN120 / AN130 (N80), 4x4 (2015–present)Popular setup
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 Series (2002–2009)Popular setup
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series (2009–2023)Popular setup
- Toyota Tacoma 4th gen (N400) (2024–present)Factory trim
265/60 R18
- Chevrolet Colorado 2nd gen (North America) (2015–2022)Factory trim
- Isuzu D-Max 3rd gen (RG) (2020–present)Factory trim
- Mitsubishi Triton / L200 5th gen (MQ/MR, Australia) (2015–2023)Factory trim
- Nissan Navara / Frontier D40 (2005–2021)Factory trim
- Toyota 4Runner 4th gen / N210 (2003–2009)Factory trim
- Toyota Hilux AN120 / AN130 (N80), 4x4 (2015–present)Factory trim
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series (2009–2023)Factory trim
- Toyota Tacoma 3rd gen (N300) (2016–2023)Factory trim
More comparisons
265/70 R17 compared
265/60 R18 compared
Questions
Can I use 265/60 R18 instead of 265/70 R17?
Only on 18-inch wheels, not the 17-inch wheels that take 265/70 R17. The diameter difference is -3.44%, just outside the ±3% screening limit, so most fitters would treat it as a different size class rather than a direct replacement. That does not approve fitment: check the car maker's approved sizes, load index, speed rating, rim width and clearance first.
How much bigger is 265/60 R18 than 265/70 R17?
Overall diameter is 27.6 mm (1.09 in) smaller: 775.2 vs 802.8 mm. Section width is the same, and the sidewall is 26.5 mm shorter. These are nominal figures; real tyres vary by model and rim width.
Will 265/60 R18 change my speedometer reading?
Yes, by 3.44%. If the speedometer was accurate on 265/70 R17, an indicated 60 mph would be about 57.9 mph on 265/60 R18, and an indicated 100 km/h about 96.6 km/h. You would be going slower than the speedometer shows.
Which is better, 265/70 R17 or 265/60 R18?
Neither in general. 265/70 R17 has the taller sidewall, which usually rides more comfortably; 265/60 R18 usually steers more sharply. The size listed for your car's trim, on its placard or in the handbook, is the safe default.
Check the exact tyre
Size codes give nominal dimensions. Before buying, confirm the size is approved for your car and check the exact tyre's load and speed ratings and published dimensions.