255/35R23 vs 265/30R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/35R23 | 265/30R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 29.3" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.51" | 3.13" | -10.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 94.3" | 91.9" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 672 | 689 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 15.01" | 14.63" | -9.8 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 255/35R23. Fit 265/30R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.7 mph | -2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,744 on the road, so it over-counts by 256. At a true 70 mph the first turns 784 times a minute, the second 804.