145/70R14 vs 155/65R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/70R14 | 155/65R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.0" | 21.9" | -0.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.00" | 3.97" | -0.7 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 155 mm | +6.9 % |
| Circumference | 69.1" | 68.9" | -0.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 917 | 920 | +0.3 % |
| Axle height | 11.00" | 10.97" | -0.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4–5.5" | 4–5.5" | overlap 4–5.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 4" 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 145/70R14. Fit 155/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 90 mph | 89.8 mph | -0.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,973 on the road, so it over-counts by 27. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1070 times a minute, the second 1073.