175/50R15 vs 185/45R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/50R15 | 185/45R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.9" | 21.6" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.44" | 3.28" | -4.9 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 185 mm | +5.7 % |
| Circumference | 68.8" | 67.7" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 921 | 936 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 10.94" | 10.78" | -4.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 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 175/50R15. Fit 185/45R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,847 on the road, so it over-counts by 153. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1075 times a minute, the second 1092.