255/70R22.5 vs 265/65R22.5
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/70R22.5 | 265/65R22.5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 36.6" | 36.1" | -1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 7.03" | 6.78" | -3.5 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 114.8" | 113.3" | -1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 552 | 559 | +1.3 % |
| Axle height | 18.28" | 18.03" | -6.3 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 255/70R22.5. Fit 265/65R22.5 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.8 mph | -1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,865 on the road, so it over-counts by 135. At a true 70 mph the first turns 644 times a minute, the second 652.
What drivers reported
255/70R22.5 carries 7 complaints and 2 deaths. Nobody has filed one naming 265/65R22.5.