295/55R16 vs 275/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/55R16 | 275/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.8" | 29.0" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 6.39" | 6.50" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 275 mm | -6.8 % |
| Circumference | 90.4" | 91.1" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 701 | 696 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 14.39" | 14.50" | +2.8 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 295/55R16. Fit 275/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.7 mph | +0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,075 on the road, so it under-counts by 75. At a true 70 mph the first turns 818 times a minute, the second 812.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 295/55R16. 275/60R16 carries 5.