195/60R16 vs 185/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/60R16 | 185/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.2" | 25.5" | +1.0 % |
| Sidewall | 4.61" | 4.73" | +2.8 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 185 mm | -5.1 % |
| Circumference | 79.2" | 80.0" | +1.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 800 | 792 | -1.0 % |
| Axle height | 12.61" | 12.73" | +3.3 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 195/60R16. Fit 185/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 90.9 mph | +0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,101 on the road, so it under-counts by 101. At a true 70 mph the first turns 933 times a minute, the second 924.