275/45R15 vs 265/50R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/45R15 | 265/50R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 25.4" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 5.22" | +7.1 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 77.7" | 79.9" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 815 | 793 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.37" | 12.72" | +8.8 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 265/50R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,278 on the road, so it under-counts by 278. At a true 70 mph the first turns 951 times a minute, the second 925.