265/30R23 vs 255/30R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/30R23 | 255/30R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.3" | 29.0" | -0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.13" | 3.01" | -3.8 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 255 mm | -3.8 % |
| Circumference | 91.9" | 91.2" | -0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 689 | 695 | +0.8 % |
| Axle height | 14.63" | 14.51" | -3.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 7–9.5" | 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 265/30R23. Fit 255/30R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 50 mph | 49.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 70 mph | 69.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 90 mph | 89.3 mph | -0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,919 on the road, so it over-counts by 81. At a true 70 mph the first turns 804 times a minute, the second 811.