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Sidewall

275/70R16 vs 285/65R16

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.

193 mm sidewall791 mm · 31.2"
275/70R16
185 mm sidewall777 mm · 30.6"
285/65R16

Side by side


Measure275/70R16285/65R16Change
Overall height31.2"30.6"-1.8 %
Sidewall7.58"7.29"-3.8 %
Section width275 mm285 mm+3.6 %
Circumference97.9"96.1"-1.8 %
Revs per mile647659+1.8 %
Axle height15.58"15.29"-7.3 mm
Approved rim width7.5–10"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 275/70R16. Fit 285/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph29.5 mph-0.5
50 mph49.1 mph-0.9
70 mph68.7 mph-1.3
90 mph88.4 mph-1.6

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,817 on the road, so it over-counts by 183. At a true 70 mph the first turns 755 times a minute, the second 769.

What drivers reported


275/70R16 carries 7 complaints. 285/65R16 carries 1.

Everything about 275/70R16 · Everything about 285/65R16