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Sidewall

165/55R14 vs 145/65R14

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

90.8 mm sidewall537 mm · 21.1"
165/55R14
94.3 mm sidewall544 mm · 21.4"
145/65R14

Side by side


Measure165/55R14145/65R14Change
Overall height21.1"21.4"+1.3 %
Sidewall3.57"3.71"+3.9 %
Section width165 mm145 mm-12.1 %
Circumference66.4"67.3"+1.3 %
Revs per mile954941-1.3 %
Axle height10.57"10.71"+3.5 mm
Approved rim width4.5–6"4–5.5"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 165/55R14. Fit 145/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph30.4 mph+0.4
50 mph50.7 mph+0.7
70 mph70.9 mph+0.9
90 mph91.2 mph+1.2

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,130 on the road, so it under-counts by 130. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1113 times a minute, the second 1098.

Everything about 165/55R14 · Everything about 145/65R14