Is 265/60R18 bigger than 235/65R17?

265/60R18 is 1.49 inches taller and 30 mm wider. In overall diameter that is +5.14%, which exceeds the ±3% rule of thumb for a substitution.

How much will 265/60R18 throw off my speedometer?

Every reading scales by 1.05140. An indicated 60 mph becomes 63.1 mph, and every 100 miles on the odometer is really 105.1 miles.

How much does 265/60R18 change ground clearance over 235/65R17?

The axle centerline moves by 0.75 inches — half the diameter change, because half the extra height sits below the hub and half above it.

Will 265/60R18 fit where 235/65R17 fits?

Nothing derived from the size code can answer that. Clearance depends on wheel offset, suspension travel and body dimensions that no tire size contains. This page tells you exactly what changes dimensionally, which is the part that can be calculated.

235/65R17 vs 265/60R18

265/60R18 is +1.49″ in overall diameter and +30 mm in section width against 235/65R17 — a diameter change of +5.14%, which breaks the ±3% substitution rule. An indicated 60 mph would really be 63.1 mph.

Outside 3%

Every dimension

Difference between 235/65R17 and 265/60R18
Dimension	235/65R17 → 265/60R18	Change
Overall diameter	29.03″ → 30.52″	+1.49″ (+5.14%)
Section width	235 mm → 265 mm	+30 mm (+12.77%)
Sidewall height	152.8 mm → 159.0 mm	+6.3 mm
Rolling circumference	91.19″ → 95.88″	+4.69″
Revolutions per mile	694.8 → 660.8	−34.0
Axle height / clearance	14.51″ → 15.26″	+0.75″

235/65R17235 mm

265/60R18265 mm

235/65R17 29.03″265/60R18 30.52″

Which is taller, 235/65R17 or 265/60R18?

265/60R18 is the taller of the two, at 30.52″ against 29.03″. The gap is 1.49 inches, or 37.9 mm.

Both are metric sizes, so neither states its height directly. Both figures below are derived from the section width, aspect ratio and wheel diameter in the code. 235/65R17 is 235 mm wide with a 152.8 mm sidewall on a 17″ wheel; 265/60R18 is 265 mm wide with a 159.0 mm sidewall on a 18″ wheel.

What the speedometer will read

Indicated versus actual speed after the size change
Speedometer reads	Actual speed	Error
25 mph	26.3 mph	+1.3 mph
40 mph	42.1 mph	+2.1 mph
55 mph	57.8 mph	+2.8 mph
60 mph	63.1 mph	+3.1 mph
70 mph	73.6 mph	+3.6 mph
80 mph	84.1 mph	+4.1 mph

Fitting 265/60R18 in place of 235/65R17 multiplies every speed and distance reading by 1.05140. Over 10,000 indicated miles the odometer is out by +514 miles.

Effective gearing moves by the same proportion. A vehicle with 3.73 axles running 235/65R17 would need 3.92 to keep the same engine speed on 265/60R18. Work it out for your own axle ratio.

Full specification of each size

235/65R17

Derived dimensions for 235/65R17
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	235.0 mm	9.25″
Sidewall height	152.8 mm	6.01″
Wheel diameter	431.8 mm	17.0″
Overall diameter	737.3 mm	29.03″
Rolling circumference	2,316.3 mm	91.19″
Revolutions per mile	431.7 / km	694.8 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	178 mm	7″

265/60R18

Derived dimensions for 265/60R18
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	265.0 mm	10.43″
Sidewall height	159.0 mm	6.26″
Wheel diameter	457.2 mm	18.0″
Overall diameter	775.2 mm	30.52″
Rolling circumference	2,435.4 mm	95.88″
Revolutions per mile	410.6 / km	660.8 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	203 mm	8″

Rim widths differ too: 235/65R17 is designed for 6.5″–8″ and 265/60R18 for 7.5″–9″. Their measuring rims differ, so the same wheel will not be ideal for both.

Can you swap one for the other?

Outside the ±3% rule

The diameter difference of +5.14% exceeds the ±3% rule of thumb. Expect a speedometer error of about 3.1 mph at an indicated 60, and an odometer that is off by the same proportion. It is a common swap even so — it just needs the instruments recalibrated to stay honest.

Neither figure says anything about physical fitment. Whether 265/60R18 clears the strut, the fender liner and the steering stops depends on wheel offset and suspension geometry that a size code does not encode. For maintenance rather than sizing, Car Basics covers tire care.