255/40R22 vs 265/35R22
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/40R22 | 265/35R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 29.3" | -2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.02" | 3.65" | -9.1 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 94.3" | 92.1" | -2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 672 | 688 | +2.4 % |
| Axle height | 15.02" | 14.65" | -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 255/40R22. Fit 265/35R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,757 on the road, so it over-counts by 243. At a true 70 mph the first turns 783 times a minute, the second 803.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 255/40R22. 265/35R22 carries 8.