Question 1

Which tire is taller, 255/50 R20 or 285/35 R21?

Accepted Answer

255/50 R20 is taller by 30.1 mm (3.94%) compared with 285/35 R21.

Question 2

What is the diameter difference between 255/50 R20 and 285/35 R21?

Accepted Answer

255/50 R20 measures 763 mm overall diameter, 285/35 R21 measures 733 mm — a difference of 30.1 mm (3.94%).

Question 3

How much speedometer error does this change create?

Accepted Answer

Switching from 255/50 R20 to 285/35 R21 changes the speedometer reading by -3.94%. At an indicated 100 km/h, your true speed becomes about 96.1 km/h.

Question 4

Is 285/35 R21 a safe replacement for 255/50 R20?

Accepted Answer

Between 3% and 5% diameter difference — speedometer drift is noticeable. Consider recalibration and confirm clearance with your vehicle's manufacturer specification.

Question 5

What else should I check before changing tire size?

Accepted Answer

Beyond diameter and speedometer error, verify wheel offset (ET), rim width, hub bore, load index, brake and suspension clearance, and your vehicle's manufacturer specification. Local regulations may also limit how far you can deviate from OEM.

Metric	255/50 R20	285/35 R21	Difference
Overall diameter	763.0 mm	732.9 mm	-30.1 mm (-3.94%)
Sidewall height	127.5 mm	99.8 mm	-27.8 mm
Circumference	2.397 m	2.302 m	-94.6 mm
Revs / km	417.2	434.3	+17.1
Ground clearance	reference	-15.1 mm	-15.1 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h	100.0 km/h	96.1 km/h	-3.94 km/h

255/50 R20 vs 285/35 R21

Detailed comparison

Verdict: warning

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