185/60R15 vs 165/65R15
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 | 185/60R15 | 165/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.7" | 23.4" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.37" | 4.22" | -3.4 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 74.6" | 73.7" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 850 | 860 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 11.87" | 11.72" | -3.8 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 185/60R15. Fit 165/65R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 90 mph | 88.9 mph | -1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,876 on the road, so it over-counts by 124. At a true 70 mph the first turns 991 times a minute, the second 1004.
What drivers reported
185/60R15 carries 22 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/65R15.