145/65R17 vs 125/75R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/65R17 | 125/75R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.4" | 24.4" | -0.2 % |
| Sidewall | 3.71" | 3.69" | -0.5 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 125 mm | -13.8 % |
| Circumference | 76.7" | 76.6" | -0.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 826 | 827 | +0.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.21" | 12.19" | -0.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4–5.5" | 3.5–4.5" | overlap 4–4.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 4" 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 145/65R17. Fit 125/75R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 90 mph | 89.9 mph | -0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,984 on the road, so it over-counts by 16. At a true 70 mph the first turns 963 times a minute, the second 965.