135/70R15 vs 155/65R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 135/70R15 | 155/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.4" | 22.9" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 3.72" | 3.97" | +6.6 % |
| Section width | 135 mm | 155 mm | +14.8 % |
| Circumference | 70.5" | 72.0" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 899 | 879 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 11.22" | 11.47" | +6.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 3.5–5" | 4–5.5" | overlap 4–5" |
Both are approved on a rim 4" to 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 155/65R15 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 | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,219 on the road, so it under-counts by 219. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1049 times a minute, the second 1026.
What drivers reported
135/70R15 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 155/65R15.