255/45R15 vs 265/45R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/45R15 | 265/45R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.0" | 24.4" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 4.52" | 4.69" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 75.5" | 76.6" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 839 | 827 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.02" | 12.19" | +4.5 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 255/45R15. Fit 265/45R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 71.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 90 mph | 91.3 mph | +1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,147 on the road, so it under-counts by 147. At a true 70 mph the first turns 979 times a minute, the second 965.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 255/45R15. 265/45R15 carries 1.