265/45R21 vs 285/40R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/45R21 | 285/40R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.4" | 30.0" | -1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.69" | 4.49" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 285 mm | +7.5 % |
| Circumference | 95.5" | 94.2" | -1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 664 | 673 | +1.4 % |
| Axle height | 15.19" | 14.99" | -5.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 8–10.5" | overlap 8–9.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 8" 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 265/45R21. Fit 285/40R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.8 mph | -1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,864 on the road, so it over-counts by 136. At a true 70 mph the first turns 774 times a minute, the second 785.
What drivers reported
265/45R21 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 285/40R21.