Enter the actual distance traveled, the distance reported by the odometer, and the tire circumference into the calculator to determine the corrected odometer reading.

Odometer Correction Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the corrected odometer reading. 

CD = (TC * CF / SC) * AD

Variables:

  • CD is the corrected distance (miles)
  • TC is the tire circumference (inches)
  • CF is the correction factor (unitless)
  • SC is the standard tire circumference (inches)
  • AD is the actual distance traveled (miles)

To calculate the corrected odometer reading, first determine the correction factor by dividing the actual distance by the reported distance. Then, calculate the standard tire circumference based on the actual distance traveled. Multiply the tire circumference by the correction factor and divide by the standard circumference, then multiply by the actual distance to get the corrected distance.

What is Odometer Correction?

Odometer correction is the process of adjusting the reading on a vehicle’s odometer to reflect the accurate distance the vehicle has traveled. This is necessary when the tire size installed on the vehicle is different from the manufacturer’s standard size, which can cause the odometer to report a distance that is higher or lower than the actual distance traveled. The correction ensures that the vehicle’s mileage is accurately recorded for maintenance schedules, resale value, and legal purposes.

How to Calculate Odometer Correction?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Odometer Correction.

  1. First, determine the actual distance traveled (AD) in miles.
  2. Next, determine the distance reported by the odometer (RD) in miles.
  3. Next, determine the tire circumference (TC) in inches.
  4. Calculate the correction factor (CF) as AD / RD.
  5. Calculate the standard tire circumference (SC) as 63360 inches (1 mile) divided by the actual distance traveled in miles.
  6. Finally, calculate the Corrected Distance (CD) using the formula CD = (TC * CF / SC) * AD.
  7. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

actual distance traveled (AD) = 100 miles

distance reported by the odometer (RD) = 95 miles

tire circumference (TC) = 80 inches