255/65R24 vs 255/70R24
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/65R24 | 255/70R24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 37.1" | 38.1" | +2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 6.53" | 7.03" | +7.7 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 255 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 116.4" | 119.6" | +2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 544 | 530 | -2.7 % |
| Axle height | 18.53" | 19.03" | +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 255/65R24. Fit 255/70R24 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,271 on the road, so it under-counts by 271. At a true 70 mph the first turns 635 times a minute, the second 618.