275/50R15 vs 255/55R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/50R15 | 255/55R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.8" | 26.0" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.41" | 5.52" | +2.0 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 255 mm | -7.3 % |
| Circumference | 81.1" | 81.8" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 781 | 774 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.91" | 13.02" | +2.8 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 275/50R15. Fit 255/55R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.8 mph | +0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,084 on the road, so it under-counts by 84. At a true 70 mph the first turns 911 times a minute, the second 903.