265/35R21 vs 255/40R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/35R21 | 255/40R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.3" | 29.0" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.65" | 4.02" | +10.0 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 255 mm | -3.8 % |
| Circumference | 88.9" | 91.2" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 713 | 695 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 14.15" | 14.52" | +9.3 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 265/35R21. Fit 255/40R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,257 on the road, so it under-counts by 257. At a true 70 mph the first turns 831 times a minute, the second 810.