Size comparison
| Spec | 245/70R17 | 265/70R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 30.5" | 31.6" | +1.1" |
| Section width | 9.7" | 10.4" | 0.8" |
| Rim diameter | 17" | 17" | 0" |
| Revolutions per mile | 661 | 638 | -23 |
| Ride height change | — | — | +0.6" |
Speedometer error
With a speedometer still calibrated for the 245/70R17, the taller 265/70R17 makes the needle read 3.6% low. Here is your real speed at common indicated readings:
| Speedometer shows | You are actually going |
|---|---|
| 60 mph | 62.2 mph |
| 65 mph | 67.4 mph |
| 70 mph | 72.5 mph |
Because the diameter changes more than 3%, plan to recalibrate the speedometer so your speed and odometer stay accurate.
Gearing effect
Swapping to the taller 265/70R17 acts like a numerically lower axle gear — it drops your RPM at speed and softens acceleration. On a common 3.55 axle, your effective gearing becomes about 3.43.
To get your original power and RPM back on a 265/70R17, you would re-gear to about 3.68 — the closest common axle ratio is 3.73. Plan it exactly with the gear ratio calculator.
Run your own numbers
Different axle ratio, or want to test another size? The tire size calculator compares any two tires for diameter, speedometer error and gearing, and the gear ratio calculator dials in the axle ratio to match.