165/85R14 vs 155/85R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 165/85R14 | 155/85R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 24.4" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.52" | 5.19" | -6.1 % |
| Section width | 165 mm | 155 mm | -6.1 % |
| Circumference | 78.7" | 76.6" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 805 | 827 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.52" | 12.19" | -8.5 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 165/85R14. Fit 155/85R14 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 | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,733 on the road, so it over-counts by 267. At a true 70 mph the first turns 940 times a minute, the second 965.