245/50R17 vs 265/50R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/50R17 | 265/50R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.6" | 27.4" | +3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 4.82" | 5.22" | +8.2 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 265 mm | +8.2 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 86.2" | +3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 735 | -3.0 % |
| Axle height | 13.32" | 13.72" | +10.0 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 245/50R17. Fit 265/50R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 70 mph | 72.1 mph | +2.1 |
| 90 mph | 92.7 mph | +2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,296 on the road, so it under-counts by 296. At a true 70 mph the first turns 883 times a minute, the second 858.
What drivers reported
245/50R17 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 265/50R17.