185/75R18 vs 185/80R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/75R18 | 185/80R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.9" | 29.7" | +2.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.46" | 5.83" | +6.7 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 185 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 90.9" | 93.2" | +2.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 697 | 680 | -2.5 % |
| Axle height | 14.46" | 14.83" | +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 185/75R18. Fit 185/80R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,252 on the road, so it under-counts by 252. At a true 70 mph the first turns 813 times a minute, the second 793.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 185/75R18. 185/80R18 carries 2.