285/50R16 vs 265/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/50R16 | 265/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.2" | 27.5" | +0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 5.61" | 5.74" | +2.3 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 265 mm | -7.0 % |
| Circumference | 85.5" | 86.3" | +0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 741 | 734 | -0.9 % |
| Axle height | 13.61" | 13.74" | +3.3 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 285/50R16. Fit 265/55R16 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 | 90.8 mph | +0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,094 on the road, so it under-counts by 94. At a true 70 mph the first turns 864 times a minute, the second 856.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 285/50R16. 265/55R16 carries 2.