185/60R17 vs 185/65R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/60R17 | 185/65R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 26.5" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.37" | 4.73" | +8.3 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 185 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 80.9" | 83.2" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 784 | 762 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.87" | 13.23" | +9.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 5–6.5" | overlap 5–6.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 5" to 6.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 185/60R17. Fit 185/65R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,283 on the road, so it under-counts by 283. At a true 70 mph the first turns 914 times a minute, the second 889.