255/55R18 vs 265/55R18
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 | 255/55R18 | 265/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.0" | 29.5" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.52" | 5.74" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 91.2" | 92.6" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 694 | 684 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.52" | 14.74" | +5.5 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 255/55R18. Fit 265/55R18 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 10,149 on the road, so it under-counts by 149. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 798.
What drivers reported
255/55R18 carries 8 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 265/55R18.