265/50R16 vs 285/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/50R16 | 285/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.4" | 27.2" | +3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 5.22" | 5.61" | +7.5 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 285 mm | +7.5 % |
| Circumference | 83.0" | 85.5" | +3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 763 | 741 | -3.0 % |
| Axle height | 13.22" | 13.61" | +10.0 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 265/50R16. Fit 285/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 70 mph | 72.1 mph | +2.1 |
| 90 mph | 92.7 mph | +2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,298 on the road, so it under-counts by 298. At a true 70 mph the first turns 890 times a minute, the second 864.
What drivers reported
265/50R16 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 285/50R16.