265/60R23 vs 255/60R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/60R23 | 255/60R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.5" | 35.0" | -1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.26" | 6.02" | -3.8 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 255 mm | -3.8 % |
| Circumference | 111.6" | 110.1" | -1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 568 | 575 | +1.3 % |
| Axle height | 17.76" | 17.52" | -6.0 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 265/60R23. Fit 255/60R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.8 mph | -1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,867 on the road, so it over-counts by 133. At a true 70 mph the first turns 662 times a minute, the second 671.