175/60R16 vs 165/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/60R16 | 165/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.3" | 23.8" | -1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.13" | 3.90" | -5.7 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 165 mm | -5.7 % |
| Circumference | 76.2" | 74.8" | -1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 831 | 848 | +1.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.13" | 11.90" | -6.0 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 175/60R16. Fit 165/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,805 on the road, so it over-counts by 195. At a true 70 mph the first turns 970 times a minute, the second 989.
What drivers reported
175/60R16 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/60R16.