285/40R21 vs 275/45R21
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 | 285/40R21 | 275/45R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.0" | 30.7" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.49" | 4.87" | +8.6 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 94.2" | 96.6" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 673 | 656 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 14.99" | 15.37" | +9.8 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 285/40R21. Fit 275/45R21 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 | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,256 on the road, so it under-counts by 256. At a true 70 mph the first turns 785 times a minute, the second 765.