235/70R16 vs 255/70R16
New overall diameter
30.06″
was 28.95″
True speed at an indicated 60
62.3 mph
your speedo reads low
Revolutions per mile
671
was 697, −26
| Measurement | 235/70R16 | 255/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 28.95″ | 30.06″ | +1.10″ (+3.8%) |
| Sidewall height | 6.48″ (164.5 mm) | 7.03″ (178.5 mm) | +14.0 mm |
| Tread width | 235 mm | 255 mm | +20 mm |
| Circumference | 90.96″ | 94.42″ | +3.46″ |
| Revs per mile | 697 | 671 | −26 |
| Speedometer error | baseline | +3.8% | reads low |
Diameter overlay
235/70R16 255/70R16
Speedometer check
With 255/70R16 fitted, when the speedometer shows the indicated speed, your actual speed is:
25 mph shown
26.0 mph actual
35 mph shown
36.3 mph actual
45 mph shown
46.7 mph actual
55 mph shown
57.1 mph actual
65 mph shown
67.5 mph actual
75 mph shown
77.9 mph actual
Common questions
- Will 255/70R16 fit instead of 235/70R16?
- At 3.8% this lands between the 3% and 5% marks. Plenty of people run swaps like this, but you will see real speedometer error, and you want to check the wheel well at full lock and full compression before you buy. Your speedometer will read low, so you are going faster than it says. Overall diameter goes from 28.95″ to 30.06″, a change of +3.8%. The rule of thumb most shops use: under 3% is fine, 3 to 5% needs a clearance check, over 5% needs recalibration.
- How far off will my speedometer read on 255/70R16?
- At an indicated 60 mph you are really doing about 62.3 mph, a +3.8% error. The speedometer reads low, so you are going faster than it shows.
- What is the difference in revolutions per mile between 235/70R16 and 255/70R16?
- 235/70R16 turns about 697 times per mile and 255/70R16 turns about 671, a difference of −26. Your speedometer and odometer both count rotations, so this number is what throws them off.