265/55R16 vs 245/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/55R16 | 245/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.5" | 27.6" | +0.4 % |
| Sidewall | 5.74" | 5.79" | +0.9 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 245 mm | -7.5 % |
| Circumference | 86.3" | 86.6" | +0.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 734 | 731 | -0.4 % |
| Axle height | 13.74" | 13.79" | +1.3 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 265/55R16. Fit 245/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 50 mph | 50.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 70 mph | 70.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 90 mph | 90.3 mph | +0.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,036 on the road, so it under-counts by 36. At a true 70 mph the first turns 856 times a minute, the second 853.
What drivers reported
265/55R16 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 245/60R16.