255/45R20 vs 235/50R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/45R20 | 235/50R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.0" | 29.3" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.52" | 4.63" | +2.4 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 235 mm | -7.8 % |
| Circumference | 91.2" | 91.9" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 695 | 689 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 14.52" | 14.63" | +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 255/45R20. Fit 235/50R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.7 mph | +0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,075 on the road, so it under-counts by 75. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 804.
What drivers reported
255/45R20 carries 53 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 235/50R20.