195/70R16 vs 175/75R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/70R16 | 175/75R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 26.3" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 5.37" | 5.17" | -3.8 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 175 mm | -10.3 % |
| Circumference | 84.0" | 82.7" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 754 | 766 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.37" | 13.17" | -5.3 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 195/70R16. Fit 175/75R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,845 on the road, so it over-counts by 155. At a true 70 mph the first turns 880 times a minute, the second 893.