255/40R21 vs 265/35R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/40R21 | 265/35R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.0" | 28.3" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 4.02" | 3.65" | -9.1 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 91.2" | 88.9" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 695 | 713 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.52" | 14.15" | -9.3 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 255/40R21. Fit 265/35R21 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 9,749 on the road, so it over-counts by 251. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 831.