255/45R16 vs 235/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/45R16 | 235/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 25.3" | +0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.52" | 4.63" | +2.4 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 235 mm | -7.8 % |
| Circumference | 78.7" | 79.3" | +0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 806 | 799 | -0.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.52" | 12.63" | +2.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 6.5–8.5" | overlap 7–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 8.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 255/45R16. Fit 235/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.8 mph | +0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,086 on the road, so it under-counts by 86. At a true 70 mph the first turns 940 times a minute, the second 932.