285/35R23 vs 275/40R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/35R23 | 275/40R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.9" | 31.7" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.93" | 4.33" | +10.3 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 96.9" | 99.5" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 654 | 637 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 15.43" | 15.83" | +10.3 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 285/35R23. Fit 275/40R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,262 on the road, so it under-counts by 262. At a true 70 mph the first turns 763 times a minute, the second 743.