165/65R16 vs 185/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 165/65R16 | 185/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.4" | 24.7" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.22" | 4.37" | +3.5 % |
| Section width | 165 mm | 185 mm | +12.1 % |
| Circumference | 76.8" | 77.7" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 825 | 815 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.22" | 12.37" | +3.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4.5–6" | 5–6.5" | overlap 5–6" |
Both are approved on a rim 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 165/65R16. Fit 185/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,121 on the road, so it under-counts by 121. At a true 70 mph the first turns 963 times a minute, the second 951.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 165/65R16. 185/60R16 carries 8.