205/55R16 vs 185/55R16
New overall diameter
24.01″
was 24.88″
True speed at an indicated 60
57.9 mph
your speedo reads high
Revolutions per mile
840
was 811, +29
| Measurement | 205/55R16 | 185/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 24.88″ | 24.01″ | −0.87″ (−3.5%) |
| Sidewall height | 4.44″ (112.8 mm) | 4.01″ (101.8 mm) | −11.0 mm |
| Tread width | 205 mm | 185 mm | −20 mm |
| Circumference | 78.16″ | 75.44″ | −2.72″ |
| Revs per mile | 811 | 840 | +29 |
| Speedometer error | baseline | −3.5% | reads high |
Diameter overlay
205/55R16 185/55R16
Speedometer check
With 185/55R16 fitted, when the speedometer shows the indicated speed, your actual speed is:
25 mph shown
24.1 mph actual
35 mph shown
33.8 mph actual
45 mph shown
43.4 mph actual
55 mph shown
53.1 mph actual
65 mph shown
62.7 mph actual
75 mph shown
72.4 mph actual
Common questions
- Will 185/55R16 fit instead of 205/55R16?
- At 3.5% 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 high, so you are going slower than it says. Overall diameter goes from 24.88″ to 24.01″, a change of −3.5%. 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 57.9 mph, a −3.5% error. The speedometer reads high, so you are going slower than it shows.
- What is the difference in revolutions per mile between 205/55R16 and 185/55R16?
- 205/55R16 turns about 811 times per mile and 185/55R16 turns about 840, a difference of +29. Your speedometer and odometer both count rotations, so this number is what throws them off.