275/65R21 vs 255/75R21
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 | 275/65R21 | 255/75R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.1" | 36.1" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 7.04" | 7.53" | +7.0 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 255 mm | -7.3 % |
| Circumference | 110.2" | 113.3" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 575 | 559 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 17.54" | 18.03" | +12.5 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 275/65R21. Fit 255/75R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,281 on the road, so it under-counts by 281. At a true 70 mph the first turns 671 times a minute, the second 653.