245/35R20 vs 265/30R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/35R20 | 265/30R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.8" | 26.3" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.38" | 3.13" | -7.3 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 265 mm | +8.2 % |
| Circumference | 84.0" | 82.5" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 754 | 768 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 13.38" | 13.13" | -6.3 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 245/35R20. Fit 265/30R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.3 mph | -1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,816 on the road, so it over-counts by 184. At a true 70 mph the first turns 880 times a minute, the second 896.
What drivers reported
245/35R20 carries 6 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 265/30R20.