145/70R15 vs 165/65R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/70R15 | 165/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.0" | 23.4" | +2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 4.00" | 4.22" | +5.7 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 165 mm | +13.8 % |
| Circumference | 72.2" | 73.7" | +2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 877 | 860 | -2.0 % |
| Axle height | 11.50" | 11.72" | +5.8 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 145/70R15. Fit 165/65R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.8 mph | +1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,197 on the road, so it under-counts by 197. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1023 times a minute, the second 1004.