275/45R22 vs 265/50R22
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/45R22 | 265/50R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.7" | 32.4" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 5.22" | +7.1 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 99.7" | 101.9" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 635 | 622 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.87" | 16.22" | +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 275/45R22. Fit 265/50R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,217 on the road, so it under-counts by 217. At a true 70 mph the first turns 741 times a minute, the second 725.
What drivers reported
275/45R22 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 265/50R22.