185/55R14 vs 175/60R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/55R14 | 175/60R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.0" | 22.3" | +1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.01" | 4.13" | +3.2 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 175 mm | -5.4 % |
| Circumference | 69.2" | 70.0" | +1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 916 | 906 | -1.2 % |
| Axle height | 11.01" | 11.13" | +3.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 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 185/55R14. Fit 175/60R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 90 mph | 91.0 mph | +1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,116 on the road, so it under-counts by 116. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1069 times a minute, the second 1057.