265/45R16 vs 245/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/45R16 | 245/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.4" | 25.6" | +1.0 % |
| Sidewall | 4.69" | 4.82" | +2.7 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 245 mm | -7.5 % |
| Circumference | 79.8" | 80.6" | +1.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 794 | 786 | -1.0 % |
| Axle height | 12.69" | 12.82" | +3.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 7–9" | overlap 7.5–9" |
Both are approved on a rim 7.5" to 9" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 265/45R16. Fit 245/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 90.9 mph | +0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,101 on the road, so it under-counts by 101. At a true 70 mph the first turns 927 times a minute, the second 917.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 265/45R16. 245/50R16 carries 10.