185/60R14 vs 165/70R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/60R14 | 165/70R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.7" | 23.1" | +1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.37" | 4.55" | +4.1 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 71.4" | 72.6" | +1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 887 | 873 | -1.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.37" | 11.55" | +4.5 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 185/60R14. Fit 165/70R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,156 on the road, so it under-counts by 156. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1035 times a minute, the second 1019.
What drivers reported
185/60R14 carries 10 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/70R14.