265/50R16 vs 245/55R16
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 | 265/50R16 | 245/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.4" | 26.6" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.22" | 5.31" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 245 mm | -7.5 % |
| Circumference | 83.0" | 83.6" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 763 | 758 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 13.22" | 13.31" | +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 265/50R16. Fit 245/55R16 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 10,067 on the road, so it under-counts by 67. At a true 70 mph the first turns 890 times a minute, the second 884.
What drivers reported
265/50R16 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 245/55R16.