235/55R22 vs 255/55R22
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/55R22 | 255/55R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.2" | 33.0" | +2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.09" | 5.52" | +8.5 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 255 mm | +8.5 % |
| Circumference | 101.1" | 103.8" | +2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 627 | 610 | -2.7 % |
| Axle height | 16.09" | 16.52" | +11.0 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 235/55R22. Fit 255/55R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,269 on the road, so it under-counts by 269. At a true 70 mph the first turns 731 times a minute, the second 712.