285/50R16 vs 275/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/50R16 | 275/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.2" | 27.9" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.61" | 5.95" | +6.1 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 85.5" | 87.7" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 741 | 723 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.61" | 13.95" | +8.8 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 285/50R16. Fit 275/55R16 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 10,253 on the road, so it under-counts by 253. At a true 70 mph the first turns 864 times a minute, the second 843.