Is 285/70R17 bigger than 265/70R16?

285/70R17 is 2.10 inches taller and 20 mm wider. In overall diameter that is +6.87%, which exceeds the ±3% rule of thumb for a substitution.

How much will 285/70R17 throw off my speedometer?

Every reading scales by 1.06869. An indicated 60 mph becomes 64.1 mph, and every 100 miles on the odometer is really 106.9 miles.

How much does 285/70R17 change ground clearance over 265/70R16?

The axle centerline moves by 1.05 inches — half the diameter change, because half the extra height sits below the hub and half above it.

Will 285/70R17 fit where 265/70R16 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.

265/70R16 vs 285/70R17

285/70R17 is +2.10″ in overall diameter and +20 mm in section width against 265/70R16 — a diameter change of +6.87%, which breaks the ±3% substitution rule. An indicated 60 mph would really be 64.1 mph.

Outside 3%

Every dimension

Difference between 265/70R16 and 285/70R17
Dimension	265/70R16 → 285/70R17	Change
Overall diameter	30.61″ → 32.71″	+2.10″ (+6.87%)
Section width	265 mm → 285 mm	+20 mm (+7.55%)
Sidewall height	185.5 mm → 199.5 mm	+14.0 mm
Rolling circumference	96.15″ → 102.76″	+6.60″
Revolutions per mile	659.0 → 616.6	−42.4
Axle height / clearance	15.30″ → 16.35″	+1.05″

265/70R16265 mm

285/70R17285 mm

265/70R16 30.61″285/70R17 32.71″

Which is taller, 265/70R16 or 285/70R17?

285/70R17 is the taller of the two, at 32.71″ against 30.61″. The gap is 2.10 inches, or 53.4 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. 265/70R16 is 265 mm wide with a 185.5 mm sidewall on a 16″ wheel; 285/70R17 is 285 mm wide with a 199.5 mm sidewall on a 17″ wheel.

What the speedometer will read

Indicated versus actual speed after the size change
Speedometer reads	Actual speed	Error
25 mph	26.7 mph	+1.7 mph
40 mph	42.7 mph	+2.7 mph
55 mph	58.8 mph	+3.8 mph
60 mph	64.1 mph	+4.1 mph
70 mph	74.8 mph	+4.8 mph
80 mph	85.5 mph	+5.5 mph

Fitting 285/70R17 in place of 265/70R16 multiplies every speed and distance reading by 1.06869. Over 10,000 indicated miles the odometer is out by +687 miles.

Effective gearing moves by the same proportion. A vehicle with 3.73 axles running 265/70R16 would need 3.99 to keep the same engine speed on 285/70R17. Work it out for your own axle ratio.

Full specification of each size

265/70R16

Derived dimensions for 265/70R16
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	265.0 mm	10.43″
Sidewall height	185.5 mm	7.30″
Wheel diameter	406.4 mm	16.0″
Overall diameter	777.4 mm	30.61″
Rolling circumference	2,442.3 mm	96.15″
Revolutions per mile	409.5 / km	659.0 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	203 mm	8″

285/70R17

Derived dimensions for 285/70R17
Dimension	Metric	Imperial
Section width	285.0 mm	11.22″
Sidewall height	199.5 mm	7.85″
Wheel diameter	431.8 mm	17.0″
Overall diameter	830.8 mm	32.71″
Rolling circumference	2,610.0 mm	102.76″
Revolutions per mile	383.1 / km	616.6 / mile
Measuring rim (estimate)	216 mm	8.5″

Rim widths differ too: 265/70R16 is designed for 7.5″–9″ and 285/70R17 for 8″–9.5″. Their measuring rims differ, so the same wheel will not be ideal for both.

Can you swap one for the other?

Outside the ±3% rule

The diameter difference of +6.87% exceeds the ±3% rule of thumb. Expect a speedometer error of about 4.1 mph at an indicated 60, and an odometer that is off by the same proportion. It is a common swap even so — it just needs the instruments recalibrated to stay honest.

Neither figure says anything about physical fitment. Whether 285/70R17 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.