255/45R21 vs 245/45R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/45R21 | 245/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 29.7" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.52" | 4.34" | -3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 245 mm | -3.9 % |
| Circumference | 94.4" | 93.2" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 671 | 679 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.02" | 14.84" | -4.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 7–9" | overlap 7–9" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 9" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 255/45R21. Fit 245/45R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,882 on the road, so it over-counts by 118. At a true 70 mph the first turns 783 times a minute, the second 793.