265/65R16 vs 255/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/65R16 | 255/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.6" | 30.1" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 6.78" | 7.03" | +3.6 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 255 mm | -3.8 % |
| Circumference | 92.9" | 94.4" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 682 | 671 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 14.78" | 15.03" | +6.3 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 265/65R16. Fit 255/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,166 on the road, so it under-counts by 166. At a true 70 mph the first turns 796 times a minute, the second 783.
What drivers reported
265/65R16 carries 5 complaints. 255/70R16 carries 68 and 1 deaths.