37x12.50R17 vs 33x12.50R18

37x12.50R17 is the taller of the two, at 37.00″ against 33.00″. The gap is 4.00 inches, or 101.6 mm.

One of these is a flotation size, which states its overall diameter on the sidewall, while the metric size only implies one — so the comparison is between a stated height and a derived one. 37x12.50R17 is 317.5 mm wide with a 254.0 mm sidewall on a 17″ wheel; 33x12.50R18 is 317.5 mm wide with a 190.5 mm sidewall on a 18″ wheel.

Neither figure says anything about physical fitment. Whether 33x12.50R18 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.

Is 33x12.50R18 bigger than 37x12.50R17?

33x12.50R18 is 4.00 inches shorter and 0 mm wider. In overall diameter that is −10.81%, which exceeds the ±3% rule of thumb for a substitution.

How much will 33x12.50R18 throw off my speedometer?

Every reading scales by 0.89189. An indicated 60 mph becomes 53.5 mph, and every 100 miles on the odometer is really 89.2 miles.

How much does 33x12.50R18 change ground clearance over 37x12.50R17?

The axle centerline moves by 2.00 inches — half the diameter change, because half the extra height sits below the hub and half above it.

Will 33x12.50R18 fit where 37x12.50R17 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.