235/55R16 vs 245/50R16
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 | 235/55R16 | 245/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.2" | 25.6" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 5.09" | 4.82" | -5.2 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 245 mm | +4.3 % |
| Circumference | 82.2" | 80.6" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 770 | 786 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 13.09" | 12.82" | -6.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 7–9" | 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 235/55R16. Fit 245/50R16 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 9,797 on the road, so it over-counts by 203. At a true 70 mph the first turns 899 times a minute, the second 917.