135/65R14 vs 125/65R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 135/65R14 | 125/65R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 20.9" | 20.4" | -2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 3.45" | 3.20" | -7.4 % |
| Section width | 135 mm | 125 mm | -7.4 % |
| Circumference | 65.7" | 64.1" | -2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 965 | 989 | +2.4 % |
| Axle height | 10.45" | 10.20" | -6.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 3.5–5" | 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 135/65R14. Fit 125/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,755 on the road, so it over-counts by 245. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1125 times a minute, the second 1154.