245/85R16 vs 245/80R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -3.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 245/85R16 | 245/80R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.4" | 31.4" | -3.0 % |
| Sidewall | 8.20" | 7.72" | -5.9 % |
| Section width | 245 mm | 245 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 101.8" | 98.7" | -3.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 623 | 642 | +3.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.20" | 15.72" | -12.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 7–9" | 7–9" | overlap 7–9" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 9" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 245/85R16. Fit 245/80R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 70 mph | 67.9 mph | -2.1 |
| 90 mph | 87.3 mph | -2.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,702 on the road, so it over-counts by 298. At a true 70 mph the first turns 726 times a minute, the second 749.