175/55R16 vs 165/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/55R16 | 165/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.6" | 23.1" | -1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 3.79" | 3.57" | -5.7 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 165 mm | -5.7 % |
| Circumference | 74.1" | 72.7" | -1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 855 | 871 | +1.8 % |
| Axle height | 11.79" | 11.57" | -5.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6" | 4.5–6" | 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 175/55R16. Fit 165/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.3 mph | -1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,816 on the road, so it over-counts by 184. At a true 70 mph the first turns 998 times a minute, the second 1017.
What drivers reported
175/55R16 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/55R16.