245/45R17 vs 255/40R17
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 | 245/45R17 | 255/40R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 25.0" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 4.34" | 4.02" | -7.5 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 255 mm | +4.1 % |
| Circumference | 80.7" | 78.6" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 785 | 806 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.84" | 12.52" | -8.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9" | 7–9.5" | overlap 7–9" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 9" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 245/45R17. Fit 255/40R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.7 mph | -2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,747 on the road, so it over-counts by 253. At a true 70 mph the first turns 916 times a minute, the second 940.