275/45R16 vs 255/45R16
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 | 275/45R16 | 255/45R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 25.0" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.52" | -7.3 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 255 mm | -7.3 % |
| Circumference | 80.9" | 78.7" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 783 | 806 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.87" | 12.52" | -9.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–10" | 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 275/45R16. Fit 255/45R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,725 on the road, so it over-counts by 275. At a true 70 mph the first turns 914 times a minute, the second 940.