255/70R21 vs 245/70R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/70R21 | 245/70R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.1" | 34.5" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 7.03" | 6.75" | -3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 245 mm | -3.9 % |
| Circumference | 110.1" | 108.4" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 575 | 585 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 17.53" | 17.25" | -7.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9.5" | 7–9" | overlap 7–9" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 9" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 255/70R21. Fit 245/70R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,843 on the road, so it over-counts by 157. At a true 70 mph the first turns 671 times a minute, the second 682.