275/55R20 vs 285/50R20
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 | 275/55R20 | 285/50R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.9" | 31.2" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.95" | 5.61" | -5.8 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 285 mm | +3.6 % |
| Circumference | 100.2" | 98.1" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 632 | 646 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 15.95" | 15.61" | -8.8 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 275/55R20. Fit 285/50R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 90 mph | 88.1 mph | -1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,784 on the road, so it over-counts by 216. At a true 70 mph the first turns 737 times a minute, the second 754.