265/70R20 vs 245/80R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 265/70R20 | 245/80R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.6" | 35.4" | +2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 7.30" | 7.72" | +5.7 % |
| Section width | 265 mm | 245 mm | -7.5 % |
| Circumference | 108.7" | 111.3" | +2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 583 | 569 | -2.4 % |
| Axle height | 17.30" | 17.72" | +10.5 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 265/70R20. Fit 245/80R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,239 on the road, so it under-counts by 239. At a true 70 mph the first turns 680 times a minute, the second 664.
What drivers reported
265/70R20 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 245/80R20.