175/80R16 vs 185/80R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/80R16 | 185/80R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.0" | 27.7" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.51" | 5.83" | +5.7 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 185 mm | +5.7 % |
| Circumference | 84.9" | 86.9" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 746 | 729 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.51" | 13.83" | +8.0 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 175/80R16. Fit 185/80R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.1 mph | +2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,233 on the road, so it under-counts by 233. At a true 70 mph the first turns 871 times a minute, the second 851.
What drivers reported
175/80R16 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 185/80R16.