195/75R16 vs 185/75R16
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 | 195/75R16 | 185/75R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.5" | 26.9" | -2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 5.46" | -5.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 185 mm | -5.1 % |
| Circumference | 86.4" | 84.6" | -2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 733 | 749 | +2.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.76" | 13.46" | -7.5 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 195/75R16. Fit 185/75R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 90 mph | 88.1 mph | -1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,785 on the road, so it over-counts by 215. At a true 70 mph the first turns 855 times a minute, the second 874.