255/70R23 vs 255/65R23
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 | 255/70R23 | 255/65R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 37.1" | 36.1" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 7.03" | 6.53" | -7.1 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 255 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 116.4" | 113.3" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 544 | 559 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 18.53" | 18.03" | -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 255/70R23. Fit 255/65R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,729 on the road, so it over-counts by 271. At a true 70 mph the first turns 635 times a minute, the second 653.