275/60R21 vs 255/60R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/60R21 | 255/60R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.0" | 33.0" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 6.50" | 6.02" | -7.3 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 255 mm | -7.3 % |
| Circumference | 106.8" | 103.8" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 593 | 610 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 17.00" | 16.52" | -12.0 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 275/60R21. Fit 255/60R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,722 on the road, so it over-counts by 278. At a true 70 mph the first turns 692 times a minute, the second 712.