165/60R14 vs 155/65R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 165/60R14 | 155/65R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.8" | 21.9" | +0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.90" | 3.97" | +1.8 % |
| Section width | 165 mm | 155 mm | -6.1 % |
| Circumference | 68.5" | 68.9" | +0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 925 | 920 | -0.6 % |
| Axle height | 10.90" | 10.97" | +1.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4.5–6" | 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 165/60R14. Fit 155/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,063 on the road, so it under-counts by 63. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1080 times a minute, the second 1073.