285/75R16 vs 275/75R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 285/75R16 | 275/75R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.8" | 32.2" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 8.42" | 8.12" | -3.5 % |
| Section width | 285 mm | 275 mm | -3.5 % |
| Circumference | 103.1" | 101.3" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 614 | 626 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 16.42" | 16.12" | -7.5 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 285/75R16. Fit 275/75R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,820 on the road, so it over-counts by 180. At a true 70 mph the first turns 717 times a minute, the second 730.