275/70R16 vs 265/70R16
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 | 275/70R16 | 265/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.2" | 30.6" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 7.58" | 7.30" | -3.6 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 97.9" | 96.2" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 647 | 659 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.58" | 15.30" | -7.0 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 275/70R16. Fit 265/70R16 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 9,823 on the road, so it over-counts by 177. At a true 70 mph the first turns 755 times a minute, the second 769.