185/75R16 vs 205/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/75R16 | 205/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.9" | 27.3" | +1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 5.46" | 5.65" | +3.4 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 205 mm | +10.8 % |
| Circumference | 84.6" | 85.8" | +1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 749 | 739 | -1.4 % |
| Axle height | 13.46" | 13.65" | +4.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 5.5–6.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 5.5" 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 185/75R16. Fit 205/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 71.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 90 mph | 91.3 mph | +1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,139 on the road, so it under-counts by 139. At a true 70 mph the first turns 874 times a minute, the second 862.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 185/75R16. 205/70R16 carries 8.