275/55R20 vs 265/45R20
New overall diameter
29.39″
was 31.91″
True speed at an indicated 60
55.3 mph
your speedo reads high
Revolutions per mile
686
was 632, +54
| Measurement | 275/55R20 | 265/45R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 31.91″ | 29.39″ | −2.52″ (−7.9%) |
| Sidewall height | 5.95″ (151.3 mm) | 4.69″ (119.3 mm) | −32.0 mm |
| Tread width | 275 mm | 265 mm | −10 mm |
| Circumference | 100.25″ | 92.33″ | −7.92″ |
| Revs per mile | 632 | 686 | +54 |
| Speedometer error | baseline | −7.9% | reads high |
Diameter overlay
275/55R20 265/45R20
Speedometer check
With 265/45R20 fitted, when the speedometer shows the indicated speed, your actual speed is:
25 mph shown
23.0 mph actual
35 mph shown
32.2 mph actual
45 mph shown
41.4 mph actual
55 mph shown
50.7 mph actual
65 mph shown
59.9 mph actual
75 mph shown
69.1 mph actual
Common questions
- Will 265/45R20 fit instead of 275/55R20?
- 7.9% is past the 5% mark, which is where this stops being a tire choice and starts being a project. Expect rubbing, meaningful speedometer error, and extra load on ABS, stability control and the drivetrain. Recalibration is the usual fix. Your speedometer will read high, so you are going slower than it says. Overall diameter goes from 31.91″ to 29.39″, a change of −7.9%. 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 265/45R20?
- At an indicated 60 mph you are really doing about 55.3 mph, a −7.9% error. The speedometer reads high, so you are going slower than it shows.
- What is the difference in revolutions per mile between 275/55R20 and 265/45R20?
- 275/55R20 turns about 632 times per mile and 265/45R20 turns about 686, a difference of +54. Your speedometer and odometer both count rotations, so this number is what throws them off.