Is 275/70R18 bigger than 285/75R16?

275/70R18 is 0.33 inches taller and 10 mm narrower. In overall diameter that is +1.00%, which stays inside the ±3% rule of thumb for a substitution.

How much will 275/70R18 throw off my speedometer?

Every reading scales by 1.00995. An indicated 60 mph becomes 60.6 mph, and every 100 miles on the odometer is really 101.0 miles.

How much does 275/70R18 change ground clearance over 285/75R16?

The axle centerline moves by 0.16 inches — half the diameter change, because half the extra height sits below the hub and half above it.

Will 275/70R18 fit where 285/75R16 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.

285/75R16 vs 275/70R18

275/70R18 is +0.33″ in overall diameter and −10 mm in section width against 285/75R16 — a diameter change of +1.00%, which stays inside the ±3% substitution rule. An indicated 60 mph would really be 60.6 mph.

Within 3%

Every dimension

Difference between 285/75R16 and 275/70R18
Dimension	285/75R16 → 275/70R18	Change
Overall diameter	32.83″ → 33.16″	+0.33″ (+1.00%)
Section width	285 mm → 275 mm	−10 mm (−3.51%)
Sidewall height	213.8 mm → 192.5 mm	−21.2 mm
Rolling circumference	103.14″ → 104.17″	+1.03″
Revolutions per mile	614.3 → 608.3	−6.1
Axle height / clearance	16.42″ → 16.58″	+0.16″

285/75R16285 mm

275/70R18275 mm

285/75R16 32.83″275/70R18 33.16″

Which is taller, 285/75R16 or 275/70R18?

275/70R18 is the taller of the two, at 33.16″ against 32.83″. The gap is 0.33 inches, or 8.3 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. 285/75R16 is 285 mm wide with a 213.8 mm sidewall on a 16″ wheel; 275/70R18 is 275 mm wide with a 192.5 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	25.2 mph	+0.2 mph
40 mph	40.4 mph	+0.4 mph
55 mph	55.5 mph	+0.5 mph
60 mph	60.6 mph	+0.6 mph
70 mph	70.7 mph	+0.7 mph
80 mph	80.8 mph	+0.8 mph

Fitting 275/70R18 in place of 285/75R16 multiplies every speed and distance reading by 1.00995. Over 10,000 indicated miles the odometer is out by +100 miles.

Effective gearing moves by the same proportion. A vehicle with 3.73 axles running 285/75R16 would need 3.77 to keep the same engine speed on 275/70R18. Work it out for your own axle ratio.

Full specification of each size

285/75R16

Derived dimensions for 285/75R16
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	285.0 mm	11.22″
Sidewall height	213.8 mm	8.42″
Wheel diameter	406.4 mm	16.0″
Overall diameter	833.9 mm	32.83″
Rolling circumference	2,619.8 mm	103.14″
Revolutions per mile	381.7 / km	614.3 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	203 mm	8″

275/70R18

Derived dimensions for 275/70R18
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	275.0 mm	10.83″
Sidewall height	192.5 mm	7.58″
Wheel diameter	457.2 mm	18.0″
Overall diameter	842.2 mm	33.16″
Rolling circumference	2,645.8 mm	104.17″
Revolutions per mile	378.0 / km	608.3 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	216 mm	8.5″

Rim widths differ too: 285/75R16 is designed for 7.5″–9″ and 275/70R18 for 8″–9.5″. Their measuring rims differ, so the same wheel will not be ideal for both.

Can you swap one for the other?

Inside the ±3% rule

The diameter difference of +1.00% is within the ±3% that fitters use as the boundary for a substitution, so the speedometer, odometer and wheel-speed-derived systems stay close enough to calibration. The section width difference of −10 mm is a separate question and is the one that decides whether it rubs.

Neither figure says anything about physical fitment. Whether 275/70R18 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.