255/70R15 vs 265/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/70R15 | 265/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.1" | 29.6" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 7.03" | 7.30" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 91.3" | 93.0" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 694 | 681 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 14.53" | 14.80" | +7.0 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 255/70R15. Fit 265/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,190 on the road, so it under-counts by 190. At a true 70 mph the first turns 810 times a minute, the second 795.