235/70R20 vs 255/65R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/70R20 | 255/65R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.0" | 33.1" | +0.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.48" | 6.53" | +0.8 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 255 mm | +8.5 % |
| Circumference | 103.5" | 103.8" | +0.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 612 | 610 | -0.3 % |
| Axle height | 16.48" | 16.53" | +1.3 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 235/70R20. Fit 255/65R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 50 mph | 50.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 70 mph | 70.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 90 mph | 90.3 mph | +0.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,030 on the road, so it under-counts by 30. At a true 70 mph the first turns 714 times a minute, the second 712.