245/50R24 vs 255/45R24
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 | 245/50R24 | 255/45R24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.6" | 33.0" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.82" | 4.52" | -6.3 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 255 mm | +4.1 % |
| Circumference | 105.7" | 103.8" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 599 | 610 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.82" | 16.52" | -7.8 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 245/50R24. Fit 255/45R24 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,819 on the road, so it over-counts by 181. At a true 70 mph the first turns 699 times a minute, the second 712.