155/80R14 vs 165/80R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 155/80R14 | 165/80R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.8" | 24.4" | +2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.88" | 5.20" | +6.5 % |
| Section width | 155 mm | 165 mm | +6.5 % |
| Circumference | 74.7" | 76.6" | +2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 849 | 827 | -2.7 % |
| Axle height | 11.88" | 12.20" | +8.0 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 155/80R14. Fit 165/80R14 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 | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,265 on the road, so it under-counts by 265. At a true 70 mph the first turns 990 times a minute, the second 965.