CarSpecsHQ

235/50R20 vs 275/45R20

275/45R20 is a safe swap for 235/50R20 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +1.68%.

20" rim
235/50R20 29.25" · 275/45R20 29.74" · drawn to scale

Side by side

235/50R20275/45R20Difference
Overall diameter29.25"29.74"+0.49" (+1.68%)
Section width235 mm275 mm+40 mm
Sidewall4.63"4.87"+0.25"
Rim20"20"same
Circumference91.9"93.4"+1.5"
Revs per mile689678-11
Ride height——+0.25"
Speedometer reads 60 mph60.061.0+1.0 mph

Speedometer and odometer

020406080100120 reads 60 · actual 61.0 mph

With 275/45R20 on a car calibrated for 235/50R20, the speedometer reads 59.0 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 1.7%.

Speedo showsActual speed
30 mph30.5 mph
45 mph45.8 mph
60 mph61.0 mph
70 mph71.2 mph
80 mph81.3 mph

Other sizes close to 235/50R20

Questions

Can I replace 235/50R20 with 275/45R20?

275/45R20 is a safe swap for 235/50R20 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +1.68%.

What's the difference between 235/50R20 and 275/45R20?

275/45R20 is 0.49" taller and 40 mm wider; the sidewall is +0.25". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 61.0 mph.

Will 275/45R20 fit on 235/50R20 wheels?

Both use a 20" rim, so the wheel diameter matches; check the wheel's width range for a 275 mm tire and the fender clearance.