275/50R21 vs 285/50R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/50R21 | 285/50R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.8" | 32.2" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.41" | 5.61" | +3.6 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 285 mm | +3.6 % |
| Circumference | 100.0" | 101.2" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 634 | 626 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.91" | 16.11" | +5.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7.5–10" | 8–10.5" | overlap 8–10" |
Both are approved on a rim 8" to 10" 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 285/50R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,124 on the road, so it under-counts by 124. At a true 70 mph the first turns 739 times a minute, the second 730.