205/65R16 vs 185/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/65R16 | 185/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.5" | 26.2" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.25" | 5.10" | -2.8 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 185 mm | -9.8 % |
| Circumference | 83.2" | 82.3" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 761 | 770 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.25" | 13.10" | -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 205/65R16. Fit 185/70R16 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 9,889 on the road, so it over-counts by 111. At a true 70 mph the first turns 888 times a minute, the second 898.
What drivers reported
205/65R16 carries 22 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 185/70R16.