295/70R21 vs 285/75R21
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 295/70R21 | 285/75R21 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 37.3" | 37.8" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 8.13" | 8.42" | +3.5 % |
| Section width | 295 mm | 285 mm | -3.4 % |
| Circumference | 117.1" | 118.8" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 541 | 533 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 18.63" | 18.92" | +7.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 8.5–11" | 8–10.5" | overlap 8.5–10.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 8.5" to 10.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 295/70R21. Fit 285/75R21 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 10,153 on the road, so it under-counts by 153. At a true 70 mph the first turns 631 times a minute, the second 622.