245/80R20 vs 245/85R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/80R20 | 245/85R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.4" | 36.4" | +2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 7.72" | 8.20" | +6.3 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 245 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 111.3" | 114.3" | +2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 569 | 554 | -2.7 % |
| Axle height | 17.72" | 18.20" | +12.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9" | 7–9" | 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 245/80R20. Fit 245/85R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,272 on the road, so it under-counts by 272. At a true 70 mph the first turns 664 times a minute, the second 646.