CarSpecsHQ

265/40R20 vs 275/35R21

275/35R21 is a safe swap for 265/40R20 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.82%.

20" → 21"
265/40R20 28.35" · 275/35R21 28.58" · drawn to scale

Side by side

265/40R20275/35R21Difference
Overall diameter28.35"28.58"+0.23" (+0.82%)
Section width265 mm275 mm+10 mm
Sidewall4.17"3.79"-0.38"
Rim20"21"+1"
Circumference89.1"89.8"+0.7"
Revs per mile711706-6
Ride height——+0.12"
Speedometer reads 60 mph60.060.5+0.5 mph

Speedometer and odometer

020406080100120 reads 60 · actual 60.5 mph

With 275/35R21 on a car calibrated for 265/40R20, the speedometer reads 59.5 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 0.8%.

Speedo showsActual speed
30 mph30.2 mph
45 mph45.4 mph
60 mph60.5 mph
70 mph70.6 mph
80 mph80.7 mph

Other sizes close to 265/40R20

Questions

Can I replace 265/40R20 with 275/35R21?

275/35R21 is a safe swap for 265/40R20 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.82%.

What's the difference between 265/40R20 and 275/35R21?

275/35R21 is 0.23" taller and 10 mm wider; the sidewall is -0.38". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 60.5 mph.

Will 275/35R21 fit on 265/40R20 wheels?

No — 265/40R20 needs a 20" wheel and 275/35R21 a 21" wheel. This is a plus/minus-size swap that changes wheels too.