Is 255/55R19 bigger than 265/50R19?

255/55R19 is 0.61 inches taller and 10 mm narrower. In overall diameter that is +2.07%, which stays inside the ±3% rule of thumb for a substitution.

How much will 255/55R19 throw off my speedometer?

Every reading scales by 1.02073. An indicated 60 mph becomes 61.2 mph, and every 100 miles on the odometer is really 102.1 miles.

How much does 255/55R19 change ground clearance over 265/50R19?

The axle centerline moves by 0.31 inches — half the diameter change, because half the extra height sits below the hub and half above it.

Will 255/55R19 fit where 265/50R19 fits?

Nothing derived from the size code can answer that. Clearance depends on wheel offset, suspension travel and body dimensions that no tire size contains. This page tells you exactly what changes dimensionally, which is the part that can be calculated.

265/50R19 vs 255/55R19

255/55R19 is +0.61″ in overall diameter and −10 mm in section width against 265/50R19 — a diameter change of +2.07%, which stays inside the ±3% substitution rule. An indicated 60 mph would really be 61.2 mph.

Within 3%

Every dimension

Difference between 265/50R19 and 255/55R19
Dimension	265/50R19 → 255/55R19	Change
Overall diameter	29.43″ → 30.04″	+0.61″ (+2.07%)
Section width	265 mm → 255 mm	−10 mm (−3.77%)
Sidewall height	132.5 mm → 140.2 mm	+7.8 mm
Rolling circumference	92.47″ → 94.38″	+1.92″
Revolutions per mile	685.2 → 671.3	−13.9
Axle height / clearance	14.72″ → 15.02″	+0.31″

265/50R19265 mm

255/55R19255 mm

265/50R19 29.43″255/55R19 30.04″

Which is taller, 265/50R19 or 255/55R19?

255/55R19 is the taller of the two, at 30.04″ against 29.43″. The gap is 0.61 inches, or 15.5 mm.

Both are metric sizes, so neither states its height directly. Both figures below are derived from the section width, aspect ratio and wheel diameter in the code. 265/50R19 is 265 mm wide with a 132.5 mm sidewall on a 19″ wheel; 255/55R19 is 255 mm wide with a 140.2 mm sidewall on a 19″ wheel.

What the speedometer will read

Indicated versus actual speed after the size change
Speedometer reads	Actual speed	Error
25 mph	25.5 mph	+0.5 mph
40 mph	40.8 mph	+0.8 mph
55 mph	56.1 mph	+1.1 mph
60 mph	61.2 mph	+1.2 mph
70 mph	71.5 mph	+1.5 mph
80 mph	81.7 mph	+1.7 mph

Fitting 255/55R19 in place of 265/50R19 multiplies every speed and distance reading by 1.02073. Over 10,000 indicated miles the odometer is out by +207 miles.

Effective gearing moves by the same proportion. A vehicle with 3.73 axles running 265/50R19 would need 3.81 to keep the same engine speed on 255/55R19. Work it out for your own axle ratio.

Full specification of each size

265/50R19

Derived dimensions for 265/50R19
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	265.0 mm	10.43″
Sidewall height	132.5 mm	5.22″
Wheel diameter	482.6 mm	19.0″
Overall diameter	747.6 mm	29.43″
Rolling circumference	2,348.7 mm	92.47″
Revolutions per mile	425.8 / km	685.2 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	216 mm	8.5″

255/55R19

Derived dimensions for 255/55R19
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	255.0 mm	10.04″
Sidewall height	140.2 mm	5.52″
Wheel diameter	482.6 mm	19.0″
Overall diameter	763.1 mm	30.04″
Rolling circumference	2,397.3 mm	94.38″
Revolutions per mile	417.1 / km	671.3 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	203 mm	8″

Rim widths differ too: 265/50R19 is designed for 8″–9.5″ and 255/55R19 for 7.5″–9″. Their measuring rims differ, so the same wheel will not be ideal for both.

Can you swap one for the other?

Inside the ±3% rule

The diameter difference of +2.07% is within the ±3% that fitters use as the boundary for a substitution, so the speedometer, odometer and wheel-speed-derived systems stay close enough to calibration. The section width difference of −10 mm is a separate question and is the one that decides whether it rubs.

Neither figure says anything about physical fitment. Whether 255/55R19 clears the strut, the fender liner and the steering stops depends on wheel offset and suspension geometry that a size code does not encode. For maintenance rather than sizing, Car Basics covers tire care.