255/40R20 vs 245/45R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/40R20 | 245/45R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.0" | 28.7" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.02" | 4.34" | +8.1 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 245 mm | -3.9 % |
| Circumference | 88.1" | 90.1" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 719 | 703 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 14.02" | 14.34" | +8.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 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 255/40R20. Fit 245/45R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.1 mph | +2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,232 on the road, so it under-counts by 232. At a true 70 mph the first turns 839 times a minute, the second 820.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 255/40R20. 245/45R20 carries 9.