195/55R14 vs 185/60R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/55R14 | 185/60R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.4" | 22.7" | +1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.22" | 4.37" | +3.5 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 185 mm | -5.1 % |
| Circumference | 70.5" | 71.4" | +1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 899 | 887 | -1.3 % |
| Axle height | 11.22" | 11.37" | +3.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7" | 5–6.5" | 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 195/55R14. Fit 185/60R14 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 | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.2 mph | +1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,132 on the road, so it under-counts by 132. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1048 times a minute, the second 1035.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 195/55R14. 185/60R14 carries 10.