265/40R21 vs 255/40R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/40R21 | 255/40R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.3" | 29.0" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.17" | 4.02" | -3.8 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 255 mm | -3.8 % |
| Circumference | 92.2" | 91.2" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 687 | 695 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 14.67" | 14.52" | -4.0 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 265/40R21. Fit 255/40R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,893 on the road, so it over-counts by 107. At a true 70 mph the first turns 802 times a minute, the second 810.