255/70R22.5 vs 265/70R22.5
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/70R22.5 | 265/70R22.5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 36.6" | 37.1" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 7.03" | 7.30" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 114.8" | 116.6" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 552 | 544 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 18.28" | 18.55" | +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 255/70R22.5. Fit 265/70R22.5 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,151 on the road, so it under-counts by 151. At a true 70 mph the first turns 644 times a minute, the second 634.
What drivers reported
255/70R22.5 carries 7 complaints and 2 deaths. Nobody has filed one naming 265/70R22.5.