125/65R15 vs 125/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 125/65R15 | 125/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.4" | 21.9" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.20" | 3.44" | +7.7 % |
| Section width | 125 mm | 125 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 67.2" | 68.8" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 943 | 921 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 10.70" | 10.94" | +6.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 3.5–4.5" | 3.5–4.5" | overlap 3.5–4.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 3.5" to 4.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 125/65R15. Fit 125/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.1 mph | +2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,230 on the road, so it under-counts by 230. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1100 times a minute, the second 1075.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 125/65R15. 125/70R15 carries 2.