145/65R18 vs 125/80R18
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 | 145/65R18 | 125/80R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.4" | 25.9" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.71" | 3.94" | +6.1 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 125 mm | -13.8 % |
| Circumference | 79.9" | 81.3" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 793 | 779 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.71" | 12.94" | +5.8 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 145/65R18. Fit 125/80R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,178 on the road, so it under-counts by 178. At a true 70 mph the first turns 926 times a minute, the second 909.