285/65R21 vs 275/70R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/65R21 | 275/70R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 35.6" | 36.2" | +1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 7.29" | 7.58" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 111.8" | 113.6" | +1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 567 | 558 | -1.6 % |
| Axle height | 17.79" | 18.08" | +7.3 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 285/65R21. Fit 275/70R21 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,160 on the road, so it under-counts by 160. At a true 70 mph the first turns 661 times a minute, the second 651.