255/35R16 vs 265/35R16
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 | 255/35R16 | 265/35R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.0" | 23.3" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 3.51" | 3.65" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 72.3" | 73.2" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 876 | 865 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 11.51" | 11.65" | +3.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 7.5–9.5" | overlap 7.5–9.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7.5" to 9.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 255/35R16. Fit 265/35R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,120 on the road, so it under-counts by 120. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1022 times a minute, the second 1010.