155/70R16 vs 175/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 155/70R16 | 175/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.5" | 25.0" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.27" | 4.48" | +4.8 % |
| Section width | 155 mm | 175 mm | +12.9 % |
| Circumference | 77.1" | 78.4" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 822 | 808 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.27" | 12.48" | +5.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4–5.5" | 5–6" | overlap 5–5.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 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 155/70R16. Fit 175/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,168 on the road, so it under-counts by 168. At a true 70 mph the first turns 959 times a minute, the second 943.