145/80R16 vs 165/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/80R16 | 165/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.1" | 25.1" | -0.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.57" | 4.55" | -0.4 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 165 mm | +13.8 % |
| Circumference | 79.0" | 78.8" | -0.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 802 | 804 | +0.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.57" | 12.55" | -0.5 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 145/80R16. Fit 165/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 90 mph | 89.9 mph | -0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,984 on the road, so it over-counts by 16. At a true 70 mph the first turns 936 times a minute, the second 938.