185/75R14 vs 165/85R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/75R14 | 165/85R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.9" | 25.0" | +0.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.46" | 5.52" | +1.1 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 78.3" | 78.7" | +0.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 809 | 805 | -0.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.46" | 12.52" | +1.5 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 185/75R14. Fit 165/85R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 50 mph | 50.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 70 mph | 70.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 90 mph | 90.4 mph | +0.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,047 on the road, so it under-counts by 47. At a true 70 mph the first turns 944 times a minute, the second 940.
What drivers reported
185/75R14 carries 21 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 165/85R14.