205/55R14 vs 185/65R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/55R14 | 185/65R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.9" | 23.5" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.44" | 4.73" | +6.7 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 185 mm | -9.8 % |
| Circumference | 71.9" | 73.7" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 882 | 859 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.44" | 11.73" | +7.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7.5" | 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 205/55R14. Fit 185/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,258 on the road, so it under-counts by 258. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1028 times a minute, the second 1003.