195/75R14 vs 175/85R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/75R14 | 175/85R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.5" | 25.7" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 5.86" | +1.7 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 175 mm | -10.3 % |
| Circumference | 80.2" | 80.8" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 790 | 784 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.76" | 12.86" | +2.5 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 195/75R14. Fit 175/85R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.7 mph | +0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,077 on the road, so it under-counts by 77. At a true 70 mph the first turns 922 times a minute, the second 915.
What drivers reported
195/75R14 carries 15 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 175/85R14.