275/70R21 vs 285/70R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 275/70R21 | 285/70R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 36.2" | 36.7" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 7.58" | 7.85" | +3.6 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 285 mm | +3.6 % |
| Circumference | 113.6" | 115.3" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 558 | 549 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 18.08" | 18.35" | +7.0 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 275/70R21. Fit 285/70R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,152 on the road, so it under-counts by 152. At a true 70 mph the first turns 651 times a minute, the second 641.