255/75R18 vs 265/75R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 255/75R18 | 265/75R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.1" | 33.6" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 7.53" | 7.82" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 255 mm | 265 mm | +3.9 % |
| Circumference | 103.9" | 105.7" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 610 | 599 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.53" | 16.82" | +7.5 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 255/75R18. Fit 265/75R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,179 on the road, so it under-counts by 179. At a true 70 mph the first turns 712 times a minute, the second 699.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 255/75R18. 265/75R18 carries 3.