275/65R16 vs 255/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/65R16 | 255/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.1" | 30.1" | -0.1 % |
| Sidewall | 7.04" | 7.03" | -0.1 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 255 mm | -7.3 % |
| Circumference | 94.5" | 94.4" | -0.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 671 | 671 | +0.1 % |
| Axle height | 15.04" | 15.03" | -0.3 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 275/65R16. Fit 255/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 50 mph | 50.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 70 mph | 70.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 90 mph | 89.9 mph | -0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,993 on the road, so it over-counts by 7. At a true 70 mph the first turns 782 times a minute, the second 783.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 275/65R16. 255/70R16 carries 68 and 1 deaths.