255/60R16 vs 265/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/60R16 | 265/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.0" | 27.5" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.02" | 5.74" | -4.7 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 88.1" | 86.3" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 719 | 734 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 14.02" | 13.74" | -7.3 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 255/60R16. Fit 265/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,796 on the road, so it over-counts by 204. At a true 70 mph the first turns 839 times a minute, the second 856.