275/60R21 vs 285/55R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/60R21 | 285/55R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.0" | 33.3" | -1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 6.50" | 6.17" | -5.0 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 285 mm | +3.6 % |
| Circumference | 106.8" | 104.7" | -1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 593 | 605 | +1.9 % |
| Axle height | 17.00" | 16.67" | -8.3 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 275/60R21. Fit 285/55R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.3 mph | -1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,809 on the road, so it over-counts by 191. At a true 70 mph the first turns 692 times a minute, the second 706.