185/45R16 vs 165/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/45R16 | 165/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.6" | 23.1" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.28" | 3.57" | +9.0 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 70.9" | 72.7" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 894 | 871 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.28" | 11.57" | +7.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 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 185/45R16. Fit 165/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,262 on the road, so it under-counts by 262. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1043 times a minute, the second 1017.