145/80R15 vs 165/65R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/80R15 | 165/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.1" | 23.4" | -2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.57" | 4.22" | -7.5 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 165 mm | +13.8 % |
| Circumference | 75.8" | 73.7" | -2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 836 | 860 | +2.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.07" | 11.72" | -8.8 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 145/80R15. Fit 165/65R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.4 mph | -2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,715 on the road, so it over-counts by 285. At a true 70 mph the first turns 975 times a minute, the second 1004.