185/70R14 vs 165/80R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/70R14 | 165/80R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.2" | 24.4" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.10" | 5.20" | +1.9 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 76.0" | 76.6" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 834 | 827 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.10" | 12.20" | +2.5 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 185/70R14. Fit 165/80R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.7 mph | +0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,081 on the road, so it under-counts by 81. At a true 70 mph the first turns 972 times a minute, the second 965.
What drivers reported
185/70R14 carries 37 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/80R14.