275/60R15 vs 265/65R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/60R15 | 265/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.0" | 28.6" | +2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.50" | 6.78" | +4.4 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 87.9" | 89.7" | +2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 720 | 706 | -2.0 % |
| Axle height | 14.00" | 14.28" | +7.3 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 275/60R15. Fit 265/65R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.8 mph | +1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,204 on the road, so it under-counts by 204. At a true 70 mph the first turns 841 times a minute, the second 824.
What drivers reported
275/60R15 carries 7 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 265/65R15.