265/40R20 vs 275/35R20
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 | 265/40R20 | 275/35R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.3" | 27.6" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.17" | 3.79" | -9.2 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 275 mm | +3.8 % |
| Circumference | 89.1" | 86.6" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 711 | 731 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 14.17" | 13.79" | -9.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 7.5–10" | 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 265/40R20. Fit 275/35R20 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 830 times a minute, the second 853.