265/55R15 vs 275/50R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/55R15 | 275/50R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.5" | 25.8" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.74" | 5.41" | -5.7 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 275 mm | +3.8 % |
| Circumference | 83.2" | 81.1" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 762 | 781 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.24" | 12.91" | -8.3 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 265/55R15. Fit 275/50R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,755 on the road, so it over-counts by 245. At a true 70 mph the first turns 889 times a minute, the second 911.