145/65R16 vs 165/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/65R16 | 165/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.4" | 23.1" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 3.71" | 3.57" | -3.7 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 165 mm | +13.8 % |
| Circumference | 73.6" | 72.7" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 861 | 871 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 11.71" | 11.57" | -3.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4–5.5" | 4.5–6" | overlap 4.5–5.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 4.5" to 5.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 145/65R16. Fit 165/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,882 on the road, so it over-counts by 118. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1005 times a minute, the second 1017.