205/65R15 vs 185/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/65R15 | 185/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.5" | 25.2" | -1.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.25" | 5.10" | -2.8 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 185 mm | -9.8 % |
| Circumference | 80.1" | 79.2" | -1.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 791 | 800 | +1.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.75" | 12.60" | -3.8 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 205/65R15. Fit 185/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,884 on the road, so it over-counts by 116. At a true 70 mph the first turns 923 times a minute, the second 934.
What drivers reported
205/65R15 carries 182 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 185/70R15.