265/50R15 vs 245/55R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/50R15 | 245/55R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.4" | 25.6" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.22" | 5.31" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 245 mm | -7.5 % |
| Circumference | 79.9" | 80.5" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 793 | 788 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.72" | 12.81" | +2.3 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 265/50R15. Fit 245/55R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,070 on the road, so it under-counts by 70. At a true 70 mph the first turns 925 times a minute, the second 919.