235/35R16 vs 255/30R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/35R16 | 255/30R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.5" | 22.0" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 3.24" | 3.01" | -7.0 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 255 mm | +8.5 % |
| Circumference | 70.6" | 69.2" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 897 | 916 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 11.24" | 11.01" | -5.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 7–9.5" | overlap 7–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 8.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 235/35R16. Fit 255/30R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,799 on the road, so it over-counts by 201. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1047 times a minute, the second 1068.