165/55R16 vs 165/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 165/55R16 | 165/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.1" | 22.5" | -2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.57" | 3.25" | -9.1 % |
| Section width | 165 mm | 165 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 72.7" | 70.7" | -2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 871 | 897 | +2.8 % |
| Axle height | 11.57" | 11.25" | -8.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4.5–6" | 4.5–6" | overlap 4.5–6" |
Both are approved on a rim 4.5" to 6" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 165/55R16. Fit 165/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.5 mph | -2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,719 on the road, so it over-counts by 281. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1017 times a minute, the second 1046.