245/75R20 vs 255/70R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/75R20 | 255/70R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.5" | 34.1" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 7.23" | 7.03" | -2.9 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 255 mm | +4.1 % |
| Circumference | 108.3" | 107.0" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 585 | 592 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 17.23" | 17.03" | -5.3 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 245/75R20. Fit 255/70R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,880 on the road, so it over-counts by 120. At a true 70 mph the first turns 683 times a minute, the second 691.