275/45R16 vs 265/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/45R16 | 265/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 26.4" | +2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 5.22" | +7.1 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 80.9" | 83.0" | +2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 783 | 763 | -2.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.87" | 13.22" | +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 275/45R16. Fit 265/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,268 on the road, so it under-counts by 268. At a true 70 mph the first turns 914 times a minute, the second 890.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 275/45R16. 265/50R16 carries 2.