285/60R21 vs 305/55R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/60R21 | 305/55R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 34.5" | 34.2" | -0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 6.73" | 6.60" | -1.9 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 305 mm | +7.0 % |
| Circumference | 108.3" | 107.5" | -0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 585 | 590 | +0.7 % |
| Axle height | 17.23" | 17.10" | -3.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8–10.5" | 8.5–11" | overlap 8.5–10.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 10.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 285/60R21. Fit 305/55R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 50 mph | 49.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 70 mph | 69.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 90 mph | 89.3 mph | -0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,926 on the road, so it over-counts by 74. At a true 70 mph the first turns 683 times a minute, the second 688.