265/50R17 vs 285/45R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/50R17 | 285/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.4" | 27.1" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.22" | 5.05" | -3.2 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 285 mm | +7.5 % |
| Circumference | 86.2" | 85.1" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 735 | 744 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 13.72" | 13.55" | -4.3 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 265/50R17. Fit 285/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,878 on the road, so it over-counts by 122. At a true 70 mph the first turns 858 times a minute, the second 868.