165/75R16 vs 165/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 165/75R16 | 165/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 25.1" | -2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.55" | -6.7 % |
| Section width | 165 mm | 165 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 80.9" | 78.8" | -2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 783 | 804 | +2.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.87" | 12.55" | -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 165/75R16. Fit 165/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.7 mph | -2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,748 on the road, so it over-counts by 252. At a true 70 mph the first turns 914 times a minute, the second 938.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 165/75R16. 165/70R16 carries 2.