275/65R15 vs 265/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/65R15 | 265/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 29.1" | 29.6" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 7.04" | 7.30" | +3.8 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 91.3" | 93.0" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 694 | 681 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 14.54" | 14.80" | +6.8 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 275/65R15. Fit 265/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,183 on the road, so it under-counts by 183. At a true 70 mph the first turns 809 times a minute, the second 795.