245/75R18 vs 265/65R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/75R18 | 265/65R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.5" | 31.6" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 7.23" | 6.78" | -6.3 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 265 mm | +8.2 % |
| Circumference | 102.0" | 99.2" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 621 | 639 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.23" | 15.78" | -11.5 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 245/75R18. Fit 265/65R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,721 on the road, so it over-counts by 279. At a true 70 mph the first turns 725 times a minute, the second 745.