265/50R21 vs 275/45R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/50R21 | 275/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.4" | 30.7" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.22" | 4.87" | -6.6 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 275 mm | +3.8 % |
| Circumference | 98.7" | 96.6" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 642 | 656 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.72" | 15.37" | -8.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 7.5–10" | overlap 7.5–9.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7.5" 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 265/50R21. Fit 275/45R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,781 on the road, so it over-counts by 219. At a true 70 mph the first turns 749 times a minute, the second 765.