245/35R15 vs 265/35R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/35R15 | 265/35R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.8" | 22.3" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.38" | 3.65" | +8.2 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 265 mm | +8.2 % |
| Circumference | 68.3" | 70.1" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 927 | 904 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 10.88" | 11.15" | +7.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9" | 7.5–9.5" | overlap 7.5–9" |
Both are approved on a rim 7.5" to 9" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 245/35R15. Fit 265/35R15 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 | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,253 on the road, so it under-counts by 253. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1082 times a minute, the second 1055.