Sheet TS-C05Rev. Oct 15, 2026United States · Canada

Data sheet TS-C05 · Comparison

265/70R16 vs 265/75R16

265/75R16 is 1.04 in taller than 265/70R16, a +3.4% diameter increase that changes revs per mile, clearance and speedometer readings.

Input

Accepts 265/70R17, LT265/70R17 121S, 265 70 17 or 33x12.50R15.

Fig. 1 — Cross-section, size 2

D31.6″B7.8″C16″A10.4″
265/75R16: A section width, B sidewall, C rim, D overall diameter. Nominal, on the measuring rim.

Table 1 — Data

265/75R16 is 31.65″ tall, +3.41% against 265/70R16. At 60 mph on the dial you drive 62.0 mph.

265/70R16 vs 265/75R16
Item265/70R16265/75R16Change
Overall diameter30.61″31.65″+3.41%
Section width10.43″10.43″0.00″
Sidewall7.30″7.82″+0.52″
Rim16″16″same
Revs per mile659637−22
Dial 60 mph =60.062.0+3.4%
Axle height15.30″15.82″+0.52″

+3.41% — outside the ±3% rule of thumb tire shops use. Expect a speedometer error, and check clearance at full lock and full compression before you buy.

Where to buy 265/75R16 ↓

Fig. 2

Side view and width, to scale

Size 1 dashed, size 2 solid, on one ground line.

30.6″31.6″+0.52″

265/70R16265/75R16

Table 2 — Speedometer

Speedometer reading and true speed
Dial showsTrue speedDifference
30 mph31.0 mph+1.0
45 mph46.5 mph+1.5
60 mph62.0 mph+2.0
70 mph72.4 mph+2.4
80 mph82.7 mph+2.7

Engine RPM at the same road speed: −3.3%. Gear ratio calculator

Table 3

Published dimensions

From each maker’s size table. A tire is listed only with a source.

The math says 31.65″. 26 tires from 5 makers measure 31.65″–32.00″. Tallest here: Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T (all-terrain), 32.00″. Check the maker’s number before you buy for a tight fit.

Published dimensions for 265/75R16
TireTypeDiameterWidthRims, inWeightTreadMax load
Firestone Winterforce LTfirestonetire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123R31.65″—7.0–8.046.4 lb17.0/32″—
Nitto Ridge Grapplernittotire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123/120Q31.65″10.51″7.0–9.056.4 lb16.4/32″3,415 lb @ 80 psi
Nitto Terra Grappler G3nittotire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123/120S31.65″10.51″7.0–9.050.3 lb15.7/32″3,415 lb @ 80 psi
Nitto Dura Grapplernittotire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123/120Q31.65″10.51″7.0–9.050.7 lb16.8/32″3,415 lb @ 80 psi
Firestone Destination X/Tfirestonetire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123S31.70″—7.0–8.044.7 lb15.0/32″—
Firestone Destination M/T2firestonetire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123Q31.70″—7.0–8.053.5 lb19.0/32″—
Firestone Transforce AT2firestonetire.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123R31.70″—7.0–8.043.5 lb17.0/32″—
Kumho Road Venture AT52kumhotireusa.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123/120R31.70″10.50″7.0–9.050.9 lb16.0/32″3,415 lb @ 80 psi
Toyo Open Country A/T IIItoyotires.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123/120R31.70″10.50″7.0–9.050.0 lb16.3/32″3,415 lb @ 80 psi
Toyo Open Country R/T Trailtoyotires.com · Oct 15, 2026LT · E 123/120Q31.70″10.50″7.0–9.056.0 lb16.3/32″3,415 lb @ 80 psi

§ 1

Size differences at a glance

Overall diameter 30.6 → 31.6 in (777 → 804 mm), +3.4% (+1.04 in) by the formula. Section width stays 10.4 in (265 mm).

Sidewall 7.3 → 7.8 in (186 → 199 mm), +13 mm. Revolutions per mile 659 → 637. Ground clearance at the axle increases +0.52 in (+13 mm).

§ 2

Speedometer and gearing effects

True speed = indicated × 1.0341. Indicated 60 mph = 62.0 mph true; 30 = 31.0; 45 = 46.5; 70 = 72.4; 80 = 82.7 mph. Indicated 100 km/h = 103.4 km/h true. The odometer overstates distance by 3.4%.

Engine speed at 65 mph with a 3.73 axle ratio in 1.00 gear is 2,663 rpm on 265/70R16 and 2,575 rpm on 265/75R16 (−3.3%). Restoring the original engine speed on 265/75R16 requires an axle ratio of 3.86 by the formula only.

§ 3

What makers publish

Makers list 12 tires in 265/70R16 from 5 brands and 26 tires in 265/75R16 from 5 brands. Published diameters for 265/70R16 run 30.6 in to 30.9 in against 30.61 in by the formula. Published diameters for 265/75R16 run 31.65 in to 32.0 in against 31.65 in by the formula.

Load ranges shown include SL, XL and E across the two sizes. Makers list approved rim widths, weights and tread depth for each model.

  • Toyo lists 265/70R16 at 30.6 in (678 revs/mi) and 265/75R16 at 31.7 in (656 revs/mi).
  • Mickey Thompson lists LT265/70R16 at 30.9 in and LT265/75R16 at 31.9 in.

§ 4

Trade-offs to consider

Taller tires add clearance, reduce revs per mile and lower engine rpm at a given road speed. They also change speedometer and odometer readings by +3.4%.

Section width does not change by the nominal numbers, so steering track is similar by the formula. Sidewall height increases, which often affects ride compliance and scrub on steering input. Availability of LT versions is greater in 265/75R16; 265/70R16 has more P-metric entries in maker tables. The ±3% overall-diameter window used by shops is a rule of thumb; 265/75R16 is outside that window relative to 265/70R16.

  • Check the tire and loading placard on the driver's door jamb for vehicle load requirements (49 CFR 571.110).
  • Read the sidewall for maximum load and, for LT tires, the load range letter (49 CFR 571.139).
  • Makers must publish acceptable rim listings for each tire (49 CFR 571.139).

Table 4

Sizes within 3% of 265/75R16

Same rim or ±1″, diameter within 3%. A shop rule of thumb, not a law.

Sizes within 3% of 265/75R16
SizeDiameterWidthvs 265/75R16At 60 mphClearance
265/70R1731.61″10.4″−0.1%59.9−0.02″
285/70R1631.71″11.2″+0.2%60.1+0.03″
235/85R1631.73″9.3″+0.2%60.1+0.04″
235/80R1731.80″9.3″+0.5%60.3+0.08″
245/75R1731.47″9.6″−0.6%59.7−0.09″
255/75R1732.06″10.0″+1.3%60.8+0.20″
275/70R1631.16″10.8″−1.6%59.1−0.25″
275/70R1732.16″10.8″+1.6%61.0+0.25″
255/70R1731.06″10.0″−1.9%58.9−0.30″
31x10.50R1531.00″10.5″−2.1%58.8−0.32″

Q&A

Common questions

How much taller is 265/75R16 than 265/70R16?

Nominal overall diameter goes 30.6 → 31.6 in (777 → 804 mm), a +1.04 in change or +3.4% by the formula.

Will my speedometer and odometer change?

Yes. True speed is indicated × 1.0341, so indicated 60 mph reads about 62.0 mph true, and the odometer overstates distance by 3.4%.

Does the change affect engine rpm or axle ratio?

At 65 mph with a 3.73 axle ratio and 1.00 gear, rpm falls from 2,663 to 2,575 (−3.3%). Restoring rpm by the formula requires an axle ratio of 3.86.

Are LT load options available in 265/75R16?

Yes. Maker tables show more LT entries in 265/75R16 (17 LT and 9 P-metric) and fewer in 265/70R16 (1 LT and 11 P-metric); published load ranges include SL, XL and E.

Notes

Method and sources

Each number and rule comes from a source with the date it was checked.

  1. Sidewall = width × aspect ratio ÷ 100
  2. Diameter = rim × 25.4 + 2 × sidewall (mm)
  3. Revs per mile = 63,360 ÷ (π × diameter, in)
  4. True speed = dial × new diameter ÷ old diameter
  5. Clearance change = half the diameter change

Numbers are nominal: the tire unloaded, on its measuring rim. Revs per mile published by makers run higher than the formula. “Within 3%” is a rule of thumb tire shops use, not a law. Tire pressure: the placard on your door jamb.

  1. Mickey Thompson: size table (mickeythompsontires.com)checked Oct 15, 2026
  2. Toyo: size table (toyotires.com)checked Oct 15, 2026
  3. 49 CFR 571.139 (FMVSS No. 139), S5.5(d)ecfr.gov · checked Oct 15, 2026
  4. 49 CFR 571.110 (FMVSS No. 110), S4.3ecfr.gov · checked Oct 15, 2026

Related

Calculators and size classes

33″22 metric and 11 flotation sizes measure 32.5–33.5″ by the formula305/70R16 · 285/75R16 · 295/75R16 · 305/65R17 · 285/70R1735″15 metric and 16 flotation sizes measure 34.5–35.5″ by the formula315/75R16 · 325/65R18 · 305/70R18 · 285/75R18 · 285/65R2037″3 metric and 13 flotation sizes measure 36.5–37.5″ by the formula385/70R16 · 315/80R17 · 375/45R24