185/80R15 vs 165/85R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/80R15 | 165/85R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 26.0" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.83" | 5.52" | -5.2 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 165 mm | -10.8 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 81.8" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 774 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.33" | 13.02" | -7.8 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 185/80R15. Fit 165/85R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,771 on the road, so it over-counts by 229. At a true 70 mph the first turns 883 times a minute, the second 903.