185/55R16 vs 165/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/55R16 | 165/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.0" | 24.4" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.01" | 4.22" | +5.4 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 75.4" | 76.8" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 840 | 825 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.01" | 12.22" | +5.5 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 185/55R16. Fit 165/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,180 on the road, so it under-counts by 180. At a true 70 mph the first turns 980 times a minute, the second 963.
What drivers reported
185/55R16 carries 10 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/65R16.