245/80R21 vs 255/75R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/80R21 | 255/75R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 36.4" | 36.1" | -1.0 % |
| Sidewall | 7.72" | 7.53" | -2.4 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 255 mm | +4.1 % |
| Circumference | 114.5" | 113.3" | -1.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 554 | 559 | +1.0 % |
| Axle height | 18.22" | 18.03" | -4.8 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 245/80R21. Fit 255/75R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 90 mph | 89.1 mph | -0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,897 on the road, so it over-counts by 103. At a true 70 mph the first turns 646 times a minute, the second 653.