285/40R16 vs 275/40R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/40R16 | 275/40R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 24.7" | -1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.49" | 4.33" | -3.5 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 78.5" | 77.5" | -1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 807 | 818 | +1.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.49" | 12.33" | -4.0 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 285/40R16. Fit 275/40R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,874 on the road, so it over-counts by 126. At a true 70 mph the first turns 942 times a minute, the second 954.