175/85R15 vs 185/80R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/85R15 | 185/80R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 26.7" | -0.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.86" | 5.83" | -0.5 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 185 mm | +5.7 % |
| Circumference | 83.9" | 83.7" | -0.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 755 | 757 | +0.2 % |
| Axle height | 13.36" | 13.33" | -0.8 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 175/85R15. Fit 185/80R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 90 mph | 89.8 mph | -0.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,978 on the road, so it over-counts by 22. At a true 70 mph the first turns 881 times a minute, the second 883.