285/45R22 vs 265/50R22
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/45R22 | 265/50R22 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.1" | 32.4" | +1.0 % |
| Sidewall | 5.05" | 5.22" | +3.3 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 265 mm | -7.0 % |
| Circumference | 100.8" | 101.9" | +1.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 628 | 622 | -1.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.05" | 16.22" | +4.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8–10.5" | 7.5–9.5" | overlap 8–9.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 8" 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 285/45R22. Fit 265/50R22 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 90.9 mph | +0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,104 on the road, so it under-counts by 104. At a true 70 mph the first turns 733 times a minute, the second 725.
What drivers reported
285/45R22 carries 6 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 265/50R22.