285/35R16 vs 275/35R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/35R16 | 275/35R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.9" | 23.6" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 3.93" | 3.79" | -3.5 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 74.9" | 74.1" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 845 | 855 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 11.93" | 11.79" | -3.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8–10.5" | 7.5–10" | 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 285/35R16. Fit 275/35R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,884 on the road, so it over-counts by 116. At a true 70 mph the first turns 986 times a minute, the second 998.