265/60R15 vs 255/65R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/60R15 | 255/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.5" | 28.1" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 6.26" | 6.53" | +4.2 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 255 mm | -3.8 % |
| Circumference | 86.5" | 88.1" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 733 | 719 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 13.76" | 14.03" | +6.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–9.5" | 7–9.5" | 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 265/60R15. Fit 255/65R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,193 on the road, so it under-counts by 193. At a true 70 mph the first turns 855 times a minute, the second 839.