265/60R15 vs 275/55R15
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 | 265/60R15 | 275/55R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.5" | 26.9" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.26" | 5.95" | -4.9 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 275 mm | +3.8 % |
| Circumference | 86.5" | 84.5" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 733 | 749 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 13.76" | 13.45" | -7.8 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 265/60R15. Fit 275/55R15 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 | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,778 on the road, so it over-counts by 222. At a true 70 mph the first turns 855 times a minute, the second 874.
What drivers reported
265/60R15 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 275/55R15.