145/80R15 vs 155/80R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/80R15 | 155/80R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.1" | 24.8" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.57" | 4.88" | +6.9 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 155 mm | +6.9 % |
| Circumference | 75.8" | 77.8" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 836 | 814 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.07" | 12.38" | +8.0 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 145/80R15. Fit 155/80R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,261 on the road, so it under-counts by 261. At a true 70 mph the first turns 975 times a minute, the second 950.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 145/80R15. 155/80R15 carries 1.