275/75R23 vs 265/75R23
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 | 275/75R23 | 265/75R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 39.2" | 38.6" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 8.12" | 7.82" | -3.6 % |
| Section width | 275 mm | 265 mm | -3.6 % |
| Circumference | 123.3" | 121.4" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 514 | 522 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 19.62" | 19.32" | -7.5 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 275/75R23. Fit 265/75R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,850 on the road, so it over-counts by 150. At a true 70 mph the first turns 600 times a minute, the second 609.