285/40R21 vs 275/45R21
275/45R21 is taller than 285/40R21 by 2.56% — a diameter difference of 0.76″.
What changes between 285/40R21 and 275/45R21
Switching from 285/40R21 to 275/45R21 changes overall diameter by +2.56%, a taller tire by 0.76 inches. This lands inside the ±3% fitment safe zone, so most vehicles will accept the swap without rubbing, speedometer recalibration, or ABS/TPMS complications. Section width moves by -0.39″ (285mm → 275mm), which affects contact patch and fender-well clearance. Sidewall height shifts by +0.38″: a taller sidewall softens ride quality and adds off-road bump protection, with some loss of steering crispness. Revs per mile moves by -17, which translates directly to speedometer error — at an indicated 65 mph, actual speed becomes 66.7 mph. Both sizes share the same 21″ rim, so no wheel change is required — this is a pure tire-only swap.
| Spec | 285/40R21 | 275/45R21 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 29.98″ | 30.74″ |
| Section width | 11.22″ (285 mm) | 10.83″ (275 mm) |
| Sidewall height | 4.49″ (40%) | 4.87″ (45%) |
| Rim diameter | 21″ | 21″ |
| Circumference | 94.17″ | 96.59″ |
| Revs per mile | 673 | 656 |
Interactive comparison
275/65R18 or "33" for inch aliases285/40R21
- Diameter
- 29.98″ / 761.4mm
- Section Width
- 11.22″
- Sidewall
- 4.49″ / 114mm
- Circumference
- 94.17″
- Revs/Mile
- 673
275/45R21
- Diameter
- 30.74″ / 780.9mm
- Section Width
- 10.83″
- Sidewall
- 4.87″ / 123.75mm
- Circumference
- 96.59″
- Revs/Mile
- 656
Speedometer & Diameter Impact
At an indicated 60 mph, your actual speed is 61.54 mph (99.03 km/h). Your speedometer reads 2.56% low versus actual speed.