255/70R17 Tire Size: Dimensions, Alternatives & Speedometer Effect
255/70R17 is a very wide tall-sidewall tire size for a 17-inch rim, and the first thing to know about it is the overall diameter: 788.8 mm (31.06 inches). That single figure drives almost everything else on this page — the speedometer reading, the gearing, the ground clearance and which sizes can replace it without changing how the car behaves. The sidewall stands 178.5 mm tall, the tire rolls 2478.1 mm around its circumference, and it turns 649.4 times for every mile travelled. If you are here because 255/70R17 is the size on your door-jamb placard, or because it is printed on the sidewall of the tires on your car now, those four numbers are the ones to carry into any comparison.
For a 17-inch wheel, 255/70R17 sits in the very wide tall-sidewall group. That combination of width, sidewall height and rim size decides the overall diameter of 788.8 mm, which is the single number that governs speedometer accuracy, gearing and ground clearance. The rest of this page decodes the code, lists the measured dimensions, and compares the three closest sizes in the chart so you can judge any change before you buy.
This is a calculation, not a safety approval. Always check your vehicle's door-jamb placard, load index and speed rating, and confirm fitment with a tyre professional before fitting a different tyre size.
255/70R17 dimensions
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 788.8 mm (31.06 in) |
| Sidewall height | 178.5 mm |
| Circumference | 2478.1 mm (97.56 in) |
| Revolutions per mile | 649.4 |
| Revolutions per kilometre | 403.5 |
| Rim diameter | 17 in (431.8 mm) |
These are nominal new-tire figures, worked out from the size code itself: the diameter is the rim diameter plus twice the sidewall height, the circumference is pi times the diameter, and the revolutions per mile follow from the circumference. Real tires vary slightly by brand, model, wear and inflation pressure, so two tires marked 255/70R17 can differ by a millimetre or two in practice — the table gives the standard computed values, which are the right ones to use for comparisons. For scale, 255/70R17 is 24.83% larger in diameter than the widely used 205/55R16 reference size (631.9 mm), so a car moving from that reference size to 255/70R17 would see its speedometer, gearing and ride height shift by that proportion. The ±3% guideline around 255/70R17 runs from 765.1 mm to 812.5 mm: replacements inside that band keep the speedometer error small, and replacements outside it deserve a closer look before fitting.
What 255/70R17 means, number by number
The code 255/70R17 breaks into three parts, and each part is a measurement. The first number, 255, is the section width in millimetres — the width of the tire from one sidewall to the other at its widest point, measured on its approved rim width. The second number, 70, is the aspect ratio: the sidewall height expressed as a percentage of the width, so 70% of 255 mm gives the 178.5 mm sidewall in the table. The letter R means radial construction, which is the standard for modern road tires, and the final number, 17, is the rim diameter in inches — the wheel this tire mounts on. Put together, the diameter is 431.8 mm of rim plus two sidewalls of 178.5 mm, which is 431.8 + 357.0 = 788.8 mm, matching the table. That arithmetic is worth doing once by hand, because it shows why two sizes that look similar can measure differently: raising the aspect ratio by 5 points on a 255 mm width adds 12.8 mm to each sidewall and 25.5 mm to the diameter, while widening the section by 10 mm at the same aspect ratio adds 7.0 mm per sidewall. The size code tells you nothing about load index or speed rating — those are separate markings on the sidewall, and the placard specifies the minimum for both.
Closest alternatives to 255/70R17
The three sizes in the chart closest to 255/70R17 by overall diameter are listed below. Each one is a real size from the same chart, with its diameter difference worked out against 788.8 mm, so the comparison is exact rather than approximate.
| Alternative size | Diameter (mm) | Difference (mm) | Difference (%) | Actual speed at 60 mph indicated | Rim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 255/65R18 | 788.7 | -0.1 | -0.01% | 60.0 mph | 18 in |
| 255/60R19 | 788.6 | -0.2 | -0.03% | 60.0 mph | 19 in |
| 255/55R20 | 788.5 | -0.3 | -0.04% | 60.0 mph | 20 in |
255/65R18 measures 788.7 mm across, 0.1 mm shorter than 255/70R17, a difference of 0.01%. Fitted in place of 255/70R17 it would lift or lower the car by about 0.0 mm — half the diameter change — and at an indicated 60 mph the car would actually be travelling at 60.0 mph. Its sidewall is 165.8 mm on a 18-inch rim, it turns 649.5 times per mile, and its circumference is 2477.8 mm. That puts it inside the ±3% guideline around 255/70R17, so it is a change the speedometer would barely notice.
255/60R19 measures 788.6 mm across, 0.2 mm shorter than 255/70R17, a difference of 0.03%. Fitted in place of 255/70R17 it would lift or lower the car by about 0.1 mm — half the diameter change — and at an indicated 60 mph the car would actually be travelling at 60.0 mph. Its sidewall is 153.0 mm on a 19-inch rim, it turns 649.6 times per mile, and its circumference is 2477.5 mm. That puts it inside the ±3% guideline around 255/70R17, so it is a change the speedometer would barely notice.
255/55R20 measures 788.5 mm across, 0.3 mm shorter than 255/70R17, a difference of 0.04%. Fitted in place of 255/70R17 it would lift or lower the car by about 0.1 mm — half the diameter change — and at an indicated 60 mph the car would actually be travelling at 60.0 mph. Its sidewall is 140.2 mm on a 20-inch rim, it turns 649.7 times per mile, and its circumference is 2477.1 mm. That puts it inside the ±3% guideline around 255/70R17, so it is a change the speedometer would barely notice.
For 255/70R17, a useful way to use this table is to start from the diameter difference column, comparing each alternative with 255/65R18 first. Anything inside ±3% keeps the speedometer, the gearing and the ride height close to the original, and most drivers would not notice the change in daily driving. Anything outside that band changes the car's behaviour in ways that are easy to measure — the speedometer error grows, the gearing lengthens or shortens, and the ride height moves — so it needs the placard check and a professional's confirmation before fitting. Rim size matters here too: the alternatives above use 18-, 19- and 20-inch rims, and a size on a different rim diameter needs different wheels, not just different tires.
255/70R17 and your speedometer
The speedometer is calibrated for the original diameter, so any change in diameter changes what the dial shows. The formula is straightforward: error % = (new diameter − old diameter) ÷ old diameter × 100, and actual speed = indicated speed × (new diameter ÷ old diameter). For the closest alternative, 255/65R18 (788.7 mm against 788.8 mm, a -0.01% change), the numbers work out as follows:
| Indicated speed | Actual speed on 255/65R18 | Actual at +3% diameter | Actual at −3% diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | 30.9 mph | 29.1 mph |
| 50 mph | 50.0 mph | 51.5 mph | 48.5 mph |
| 70 mph | 70.0 mph | 72.1 mph | 67.9 mph |
For 255/70R17, a 0.01% diameter change sounds small, and at 30 mph it is — the difference is under a mile per hour either way. At 70 mph the same percentage is worth a little more, which is why motorway driving is where a size change shows up first. The +3% and −3% columns show the edges of the usual guideline: at the +3% edge the car is travelling about 2 mph faster than the dial at 70 mph, and at the −3% edge about 2 mph slower. That is the reason the guideline is ±3% rather than a wider band — beyond it, the error at motorway speed starts to matter for speed limits and for the odometer, which records distance from the same wheel-speed signal and so drifts by the same percentage. A tire change also affects the odometer reading, the gearing and, on some cars, the calibration of driver-assistance systems that use wheel speed.
The trade-offs of changing from 255/70R17
A wider replacement for 255/70R17 increases the contact patch and can improve grip on dry roads, at the cost of more rolling resistance, heavier steering and a greater chance of rubbing at full lock or over bumps if the arch clearance is tight. A taller replacement — a larger overall diameter — raises ride height by half the diameter gain, makes each gear feel slightly longer, and makes the speedometer under-read, so the car travels faster than the dial shows. A narrower or shorter replacement reverses those effects: the speedometer over-reads, the gearing shortens, and the ride can feel a touch firmer over small bumps because there is less sidewall to absorb them. The differences are small when the diameter stays within ±3% of 788.8 mm, and they grow steadily once it moves outside that band.
Ride quality follows the sidewall. The 178.5 mm sidewall on 255/70R17 is 70.0% of the section width, and it is the cushion between the rim and the road: a taller sidewall absorbs small bumps and protects the rim from pothole damage, while a shorter sidewall gives sharper steering response and less flex in corners. That is the trade behind the tall-sidewall label — 255/70R17 is neither the softest nor the sharpest option in its rim size, and moving to a much lower aspect ratio on the same rim would firm the ride noticeably, while moving to a much taller one would soften it. Fuel use moves with rolling resistance, which tends to rise with width and fall slightly with a taller, more flexible sidewall, but the differences between sizes inside the ±3% band are small compared with the differences that pressure, tread pattern and driving style make. Keep the pressures at the placard figure for the size fitted, checked cold, and the tire will perform as its size suggests it should.
Checking 255/70R17 against your vehicle
The checks for 255/70R17 start from the same place every time: the 788.8 mm diameter on the placard, and the load and speed ratings that go with it. The placard on the driver's door jamb is the first document to find. It gives the manufacturer-specified size, the recommended cold pressures front and rear, and usually the load index and speed rating the vehicle needs. The owner's manual repeats that information and adds the spare-tyre size, which is often different. Compare both with the size moulded on the sidewall of the tires fitted now: if they do not match, find out why before ordering replacements, because the fitted size may have been a previous owner's choice rather than the manufacturer's. Load index and speed rating matter as much as the three numbers in 255/70R17: a replacement with a lower load index than the placard asks for is the wrong tire even if the size code matches. Rim width matters too — 255 mm of section width needs a rim in the approved width range for that size. And if the car has tyre pressure monitoring, remember that a circumference change can affect it, so budget for a reset or relearn.
Do not forget the spare when you change to 255/70R17. A full-size spare should match this 788.8 mm size and the load index of the road tires, while a space-saver is a different size with its own speed limit, meant only to get the car to a repair. After fitting, re-check the pressures once the tires have cooled: a tire fitted warm can read differently cold, and the placard pressure for 255/70R17 is a cold pressure, not a number carried over from the old size.
Five mistakes to avoid with 255/70R17
The mistakes below are the ones that catch people out with 255/70R17 in particular, because its 788.8 mm diameter looks close to several neighbouring sizes. The most common mistake is reading only the width. A driver sees 255 mm and assumes any 255-width tire will do, but 255/70R17 also fixes the aspect ratio at 70% and the rim at 17 inches, and a different aspect ratio on the same width changes the diameter by several millimetres. The second mistake is trusting the size on the car now instead of the placard — a previous owner may have fitted the wrong size, and copying it repeats the error. The third is ignoring the load index and speed rating, which are separate from the size code and just as important. The fourth is fitting a different size on one axle only, which leaves the car with two different rolling circumferences and can confuse traction control, ABS and all-wheel-drive systems. The fifth is forgetting pressure: a new size needs the placard pressure for that size, not the pressure the old tires happened to be running at.
The last mistake is a quiet one: assuming the size code is the whole specification. 255/70R17 fixes the width, the aspect ratio and the rim, but it does not fix the load index, the speed rating, the tread pattern or the compound, and two tires marked 255/70R17 can still be very different tires. Read the full sidewall, match the load index and speed rating to the placard, and choose the tread and compound for the driving the car actually does. The size gets you to the right shelf; the rest of the sidewall gets you to the right tire.
255/70r17 tire size: Related sizes and tools
If 255/70R17 is your starting point, the closest sizes to compare are 255/65R18 tire size, 255/60R19 tire size, 255/55R20 tire size. The tire size calculator page explains how to decode any size code and work out its dimensions, and the tyre size calculator tool does the arithmetic for any size in the chart. The tyre sizes hub lists every size covered on this site, and the tyre size chart shows the full computed table side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What is the overall diameter of 255/70R17?
The overall diameter of 255/70R17 is 788.8 mm, which is 31.06 inches. That is the rim diameter of 17 inches (431.8 mm) plus two sidewalls of 178.5 mm each. It is a nominal new-tire figure; real tires vary slightly by brand, model, wear and inflation pressure.
What is the sidewall height of 255/70R17?
The sidewall height of 255/70R17 is 178.5 mm. It comes from the aspect ratio: 70% of the 255 mm section width is 255 × 70 ÷ 100 = 178.5 mm. That tall-sidewall sidewall is the cushion between the 17-inch rim and the road, and it is what gives 255/70R17 its ride and steering character.
How many revolutions per mile does 255/70R17 do?
255/70R17 turns 649.4 times per mile, or about 403.5 times per kilometre. The figure follows from the circumference of 2478.1 mm: one mile is 63,360 inches, and each revolution covers one circumference. A replacement tire with a different circumference turns a different number of times per mile, which is why the speedometer and odometer readings move when the diameter changes.
What is the closest alternative size to 255/70R17?
The closest size in the chart to 255/70R17 is 255/65R18, at 788.7 mm — 0.01% smaller in diameter than 255/70R17. At an indicated 60 mph the car would actually be travelling at 60.0 mph on 255/65R18. The next closest are 255/60R19 (-0.03%) and 255/55R20 (-0.04%), and all three are listed with their full figures in the alternatives table above.
Does 255/70R17 affect the speedometer?
Yes — fitting 255/70R17 in place of a different original size changes the reading, because the speedometer is calibrated for the diameter the car was built with, so fitting 255/70R17 in place of a size with a different diameter changes the reading by the diameter difference as a percentage. A replacement within ±3% of the original diameter — between 765.1 mm and 812.5 mm for 255/70R17 — keeps the error small; outside that band the error at motorway speed becomes noticeable, and the odometer drifts by the same percentage.
Can I fit 255/70R17 instead of my current size?
For 255/70R17, only if the diameter stays within about ±3% of the size on your door-jamb placard, the load index and speed rating meet what the placard specifies, the rim width suits a 255 mm section, and there is clearance at the arch, the suspension and full steering lock. This page gives the measurements so you can make that comparison; it does not approve a fitment. Check the placard and confirm with a tire professional before fitting a different size.