Question 1

Which tire is taller, 265/50 R20 or 265/40 R21?

Accepted Answer

265/50 R20 is taller by 27.6 mm (3.57%) compared with 265/40 R21.

Question 2

What is the diameter difference between 265/50 R20 and 265/40 R21?

Accepted Answer

265/50 R20 measures 773 mm overall diameter, 265/40 R21 measures 745 mm — a difference of 27.6 mm (3.57%).

Question 3

How much speedometer error does this change create?

Accepted Answer

Switching from 265/50 R20 to 265/40 R21 changes the speedometer reading by -3.57%. At an indicated 100 km/h, your true speed becomes about 96.4 km/h.

Question 4

Is 265/40 R21 a safe replacement for 265/50 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	265/50 R20	265/40 R21	Difference
Overall diameter	773.0 mm	745.4 mm	-27.6 mm (-3.57%)
Sidewall height	132.5 mm	106.0 mm	-26.5 mm
Circumference	2.428 m	2.342 m	-86.7 mm
Revs / km	411.8	427.0	+15.2
Ground clearance	reference	-13.8 mm	-13.8 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h	100.0 km/h	96.4 km/h	-3.57 km/h

265/50 R20 vs 265/40 R21

Detailed comparison

Verdict: warning

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