275/50R21 vs 255/50R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/50R21 | 255/50R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.8" | 31.0" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.41" | 5.02" | -7.3 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 255 mm | -7.3 % |
| Circumference | 100.0" | 97.5" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 634 | 650 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 15.91" | 15.52" | -10.0 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 275/50R21. Fit 255/50R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,753 on the road, so it over-counts by 247. At a true 70 mph the first turns 739 times a minute, the second 758.