135/70R15 vs 125/75R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 135/70R15 | 125/75R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.4" | 22.4" | -0.3 % |
| Sidewall | 3.72" | 3.69" | -0.8 % |
| Section width | 135 mm | 125 mm | -7.4 % |
| Circumference | 70.5" | 70.3" | -0.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 899 | 901 | +0.3 % |
| Axle height | 11.22" | 11.19" | -0.8 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 135/70R15. Fit 125/75R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 90 mph | 89.8 mph | -0.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,974 on the road, so it over-counts by 26. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1049 times a minute, the second 1051.