195/55R16 vs 175/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/55R16 | 175/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.4" | 25.0" | +2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.22" | 4.48" | +6.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 175 mm | -10.3 % |
| Circumference | 76.8" | 78.4" | +2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 825 | 808 | -2.1 % |
| Axle height | 12.22" | 12.48" | +6.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7" | 5–6" | overlap 5.5–6" |
Both are approved on a rim 5.5" to 6" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 195/55R16. Fit 175/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 91.9 mph | +1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,209 on the road, so it under-counts by 209. At a true 70 mph the first turns 963 times a minute, the second 943.
What drivers reported
195/55R16 carries 19 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 175/65R16.