295/50R16 vs 275/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/50R16 | 275/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.6" | 27.9" | +1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.81" | 5.95" | +2.5 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 275 mm | -6.8 % |
| Circumference | 86.8" | 87.7" | +1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 730 | 723 | -1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.81" | 13.95" | +3.8 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 295/50R16. Fit 275/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 91.0 mph | +1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,107 on the road, so it under-counts by 107. At a true 70 mph the first turns 852 times a minute, the second 843.