295/35R16 vs 275/40R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/35R16 | 275/40R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.1" | 24.7" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.06" | 4.33" | +6.5 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 275 mm | -6.8 % |
| Circumference | 75.8" | 77.5" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 836 | 818 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.06" | 12.33" | +6.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 7.5–10" | overlap 8.5–10" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 10" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 295/35R16. Fit 275/40R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,220 on the road, so it under-counts by 220. At a true 70 mph the first turns 975 times a minute, the second 954.