135/70R16 vs 125/80R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 135/70R16 | 125/80R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.4" | 23.9" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.72" | 3.94" | +5.8 % |
| Section width | 135 mm | 125 mm | -7.4 % |
| Circumference | 73.6" | 75.0" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 860 | 845 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 11.72" | 11.94" | +5.5 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 135/70R16. Fit 125/80R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,185 on the road, so it under-counts by 185. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1004 times a minute, the second 986.