175/65R14 vs 185/55R16
New overall diameter
24.01″
was 22.96″
True speed at an indicated 60
62.8 mph
your speedo reads low
Revolutions per mile
840
was 879, −39
| Measurement | 175/65R14 | 185/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 22.96″ | 24.01″ | +1.06″ (+4.6%) |
| Sidewall height | 4.48″ (113.8 mm) | 4.01″ (101.8 mm) | −12.0 mm |
| Tread width | 175 mm | 185 mm | +10 mm |
| Circumference | 72.12″ | 75.44″ | +3.31″ |
| Revs per mile | 879 | 840 | −39 |
| Speedometer error | baseline | +4.6% | reads low |
Diameter overlay
175/65R14 185/55R16
Speedometer check
With 185/55R16 fitted, when the speedometer shows the indicated speed, your actual speed is:
25 mph shown
26.1 mph actual
35 mph shown
36.6 mph actual
45 mph shown
47.1 mph actual
55 mph shown
57.5 mph actual
65 mph shown
68.0 mph actual
75 mph shown
78.4 mph actual
Common questions
- Will 185/55R16 fit instead of 175/65R14?
- At 4.6% this lands between the 3% and 5% marks. Plenty of people run swaps like this, but you will see real speedometer error, and you want to check the wheel well at full lock and full compression before you buy. Your speedometer will read low, so you are going faster than it says. Overall diameter goes from 22.96″ to 24.01″, a change of +4.6%. The rule of thumb most shops use: under 3% is fine, 3 to 5% needs a clearance check, over 5% needs recalibration.
- How far off will my speedometer read on 185/55R16?
- At an indicated 60 mph you are really doing about 62.8 mph, a +4.6% error. The speedometer reads low, so you are going faster than it shows.
- What is the difference in revolutions per mile between 175/65R14 and 185/55R16?
- 175/65R14 turns about 879 times per mile and 185/55R16 turns about 840, a difference of −39. Your speedometer and odometer both count rotations, so this number is what throws them off.