155/70R16 vs 145/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 155/70R16 | 145/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.5" | 24.0" | -2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.27" | 4.00" | -6.5 % |
| Section width | 155 mm | 145 mm | -6.5 % |
| Circumference | 77.1" | 75.4" | -2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 822 | 841 | +2.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.27" | 12.00" | -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 155/70R16. Fit 145/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 88.0 mph | -2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,775 on the road, so it over-counts by 225. At a true 70 mph the first turns 959 times a minute, the second 981.