255/65R16 vs 275/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/65R16 | 275/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.1" | 29.0" | -0.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.53" | 6.50" | -0.5 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 275 mm | +7.8 % |
| Circumference | 91.3" | 91.1" | -0.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 694 | 696 | +0.2 % |
| Axle height | 14.53" | 14.50" | -0.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 7.5–10" | 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 255/65R16. Fit 275/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 90 mph | 89.8 mph | -0.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,980 on the road, so it over-counts by 20. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 812.