165/70R13 vs 175/60R14: Tyre Size Comparison, Diameter Difference & Speedometer Effect

If you are choosing between 165/70R13 and 175/60R14, the first question is how far apart they really are. 175/60R14 is the taller tyre: its diameter is 565.6 mm against 561.2 mm, +4.4 mm (+0.8%) larger. The sidewall goes from 115.5 mm to 105.0 mm (-10.5 mm), the circumference from 1763.1 mm to 1776.9 mm, and the revs per mile from 912.8 to 905.7. The tables below lay all of that out, then work through the speedometer effect in each direction and the clearance checks that matter before either size goes on the car.

Before the tables, keep the context straight. These are nominal new-tyre dimensions, computed from the size codes: real tyres vary slightly by brand, model, wear and inflation pressure. A +0.8% difference is within the plus-or-minus 3% guideline that is commonly used for speedometer accuracy, and the speedometer tables below show exactly what that percentage means at real road speeds. The rest of the page covers sidewall, grip, gearing and the clearance checks that decide whether the larger size can physically fit. That is the point this page works through for 165/70r13 vs 175/60r14.

This is a calculation, not a safety approval. Always check your vehicle's door-jamb placard, load index and speed rating, and confirm fitment with a tyre professional before fitting a different tyre size.

165/70R13 vs 175/60R14 side by side

Measurement 165/70R13 175/60R14 Difference
Overall diameter 561.2 mm (22.1 in) 565.6 mm (22.3 in) +4.4 mm (+0.8%)
Sidewall height 115.5 mm 105.0 mm -10.5 mm
Circumference 1763.1 mm 1776.9 mm +13.8 mm
Revolutions per mile 912.8 905.7 -7.1
Section width 165 mm 175 mm +10 mm
Rim diameter 13 in 14 in +1 in

Diameter difference between 165/70R13 and 175/60R14: +4.4 mm (+0.8%)

Put the percentage in context. The plus-or-minus 3% guideline exists because small diameter changes produce small speedometer errors, and this change is +0.8%, which is inside that band. In revs per mile the shift is -7.1 (912.8 to 905.7), and in circumference it is +13.8 mm per turn. Those are not abstract figures: every mile you drive, the car covers +13.8 mm more or less per wheel revolution than the instruments expect, and the gap accumulates exactly like interest.

Speedometer error: 165/70R13 to 175/60R14 and back

Here is what the speedometer does in practice. Fit 175/60R14 where 165/70R13 was, and the dial understates or overstates speed by 0.8%: indicated 30 mph is really 30.2 mph, indicated 50 mph is really 50.4 mph, and indicated 70 mph is really 70.5 mph. Swap back from 175/60R14 to 165/70R13 and the error flips sign — 70 mph indicated becomes 69.5 mph. The odometer drifts by the same percentage in each direction, so recorded mileage and any service intervals based on it shift too.

Indicated speed Actual speed fitting 175/60R14 (from 165/70R13) Actual speed fitting 165/70R13 (from 175/60R14)
30 mph 30.2 mph 29.8 mph
50 mph 50.4 mph 49.6 mph
70 mph 70.5 mph 69.5 mph

Sidewall height and ride comfort: 165/70R13 vs 175/60R14

The sidewall is where the ride difference lives. 165/70R13 has 115.5 mm of sidewall and 175/60R14 has 105.0 mm, a change of -10.5 mm. Less sidewall generally means sharper steering response and less cushioning, so more of the road surface reaches the cabin. The aspect ratios tell the same story in percentage terms: 70% for 165/70R13 against 60% for 175/60R14. Sidewall height also affects vulnerability to kerb damage — a shorter sidewall leaves less rubber between the rim and the road.

Width, grip and fuel use: 165/70R13 vs 175/60R14

On this page, 165/70r13 vs 175/60r14 is the case in point: Width changes by +10 mm, from 165 mm to 175 mm. A wider tyre puts a broader contact patch on the road, which generally helps dry grip and braking, but it can also increase road noise and rolling resistance, and it needs more clearance around the suspension and arches. Fuel use moves with rolling resistance, so a wider tyre can cost a small amount of fuel over time — the effect is real but modest for a change of this size, and it is not something this page can put a precise number on without knowing the exact tyre models involved.

Revolutions per mile and gearing: 165/70R13 vs 175/60R14

Think of the gearing change as the diameter change in disguise. The revs-per-mile gap is -7.1, which is 0.8% of the original figure — the same percentage as the diameter gap. That is because revs per mile is just a mile divided by the circumference, and the circumference is pi times the diameter. So everything the gearing does — engine speed at a given road speed, acceleration in each gear, cruising refinement — shifts by 0.8% and no more. Small percentages mean small effects, which is another reason the plus-or-minus 3% guideline is a useful yardstick.

Will 175/60R14 clear after 165/70R13? What to check before fitting

Do not skip the physical check. The diameter difference is +0.8% and the width difference is +10 mm, and both of those affect whether 175/60R14 fits where 165/70R13 did. Check the gap between the tyre and the arch, the gap to the suspension arms and struts, and the clearance at full steering lock in both directions. Repeat the check with weight in the car, because suspension travel changes the geometry. If the tyre touches anything at any point in that check, it does not fit, whatever the diameter percentage says. The load index and speed rating need confirming against the placard too, and the rim width must suit a 175 mm tyre.

Which size suits which priority: 165/70R13 or 175/60R14

The decision comes down to priorities. Comfort follows the sidewall (-10.5 mm here). Grip follows the width (+10 mm here). Instrument accuracy follows the diameter (+0.8% here). Gearing and cruising engine speed follow the revs-per-mile change (-7.1). None of those is large in this comparison, which is why the practical checks — clearance, load index, speed rating, rim width — deserve as much attention as the numbers. Get those right and the size choice becomes a matter of preference rather than a risk.

Related 165/70R13 vs 175/60R14 comparisons and tools

Frequently asked questions

What is the diameter difference between 165/70R13 and 175/60R14?

175/60R14 is +4.4 mm (+0.8%) larger in diameter than 165/70R13: 565.6 mm against 561.2 mm. That is inside the commonly used plus-or-minus 3% guideline for keeping speedometer error small.

How much will my speedometer be out if I fit 175/60R14 instead of 165/70R13?

Taking 165/70r13 vs 175/60r14 as the case in point: The error follows the diameter ratio, +0.8%. At an indicated 30 mph the true speed would be 30.2 mph, at 50 mph indicated it would be 50.4 mph, and at 70 mph indicated it would be 70.5 mph. The full table in both directions is in the speedometer section above.

Is 175/60R14 wider than 165/70R13, and does that matter?

Yes — 175/60R14 is 175 mm wide against 165 mm for 165/70R13, a difference of +10 mm. A wider tyre generally gives more dry grip and can increase rolling resistance and road noise slightly. Width also affects clearance, so check the arches and suspension at full lock.

Will 175/60R14 fit my car if 165/70R13 fits?

Not necessarily. 175/60R14 is taller by 4.4 mm and 10 mm wider, and it needs a 14-inch rim. Check the wheel arches, suspension and steering lock at full lock in both directions, with the car loaded, and confirm the load index and speed rating against your door-jamb placard. A tyre professional can confirm fitment on your vehicle.

Which size is better, 165/70R13 or 175/60R14?

Neither is better in general — it depends on what you want. 175/60R14 has a -10.5 mm sidewall difference, a +10 mm width difference and a +0.8% diameter difference, so the trade-offs are comfort, grip and instrument accuracy respectively. If the diameter is within the plus-or-minus 3% guideline and the clearance check passes, the choice is a matter of preference; if not, resolve those two points first.