275/45R15 vs 265/45R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/45R15 | 265/45R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 24.4" | -1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.69" | -3.6 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 77.7" | 76.6" | -1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 815 | 827 | +1.4 % |
| Axle height | 12.37" | 12.19" | -4.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–10" | 7.5–9.5" | 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 275/45R15. Fit 265/45R15 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 | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.7 mph | -1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,857 on the road, so it over-counts by 143. At a true 70 mph the first turns 951 times a minute, the second 965.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 275/45R15. 265/45R15 carries 1.