145/70R15 vs 155/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/70R15 | 155/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.0" | 23.5" | +2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.00" | 4.27" | +6.9 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 155 mm | +6.9 % |
| Circumference | 72.2" | 74.0" | +2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 877 | 857 | -2.4 % |
| Axle height | 11.50" | 11.77" | +7.0 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 145/70R15. Fit 155/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.7 mph | +1.7 |
| 90 mph | 92.2 mph | +2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,240 on the road, so it under-counts by 240. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1023 times a minute, the second 999.