255/50R15 vs 245/55R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/50R15 | 245/55R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 25.6" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.02" | 5.31" | +5.7 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 245 mm | -3.9 % |
| Circumference | 78.7" | 80.5" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 805 | 788 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.52" | 12.81" | +7.3 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 255/50R15. Fit 245/55R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.1 mph | +2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,228 on the road, so it under-counts by 228. At a true 70 mph the first turns 940 times a minute, the second 919.