255/55R24 vs 255/50R24
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/55R24 | 255/50R24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.0" | 34.0" | -2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 5.52" | 5.02" | -9.1 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 255 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 110.1" | 106.9" | -2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 576 | 592 | +2.9 % |
| Axle height | 17.52" | 17.02" | -12.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 7–9.5" | overlap 7–9.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" 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 255/55R24. Fit 255/50R24 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.4 mph | -2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,714 on the road, so it over-counts by 286. At a true 70 mph the first turns 671 times a minute, the second 691.