275/65R21 vs 285/60R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/65R21 | 285/60R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.1" | 34.5" | -1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 7.04" | 6.73" | -4.3 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 285 mm | +3.6 % |
| Circumference | 110.2" | 108.3" | -1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 575 | 585 | +1.7 % |
| Axle height | 17.54" | 17.23" | -7.8 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 275/65R21. Fit 285/60R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,826 on the road, so it over-counts by 174. At a true 70 mph the first turns 671 times a minute, the second 683.