165/80R14 vs 155/85R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 165/80R14 | 155/85R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.4" | 24.4" | -0.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.20" | 5.19" | -0.2 % |
| Section width | 165 mm | 155 mm | -6.1 % |
| Circumference | 76.6" | 76.6" | -0.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 827 | 827 | +0.1 % |
| Axle height | 12.20" | 12.19" | -0.3 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 165/80R14. Fit 155/85R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 50 mph | 50.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 70 mph | 69.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 90 mph | 89.9 mph | -0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,992 on the road, so it over-counts by 8. At a true 70 mph the first turns 965 times a minute, the second 965.