265/50R18 vs 245/55R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/50R18 | 245/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.4" | 28.6" | +0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 5.22" | 5.31" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 245 mm | -7.5 % |
| Circumference | 89.3" | 89.9" | +0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 709 | 705 | -0.6 % |
| Axle height | 14.22" | 14.31" | +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 265/50R18. Fit 245/55R18 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 | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,062 on the road, so it under-counts by 62. At a true 70 mph the first turns 828 times a minute, the second 822.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 265/50R18. 245/55R18 carries 6.