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

If you are choosing between 175/60R13 and 165/60R14, the first question is how far apart they really are. 165/60R14 is the taller tyre: its diameter is 553.6 mm against 540.2 mm, +13.4 mm (+2.5%) larger. The sidewall goes from 105.0 mm to 99.0 mm (-6.0 mm), the circumference from 1697.1 mm to 1739.2 mm, and the revs per mile from 948.3 to 925.3. 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.

The short version: a +2.5% diameter difference is inside the commonly used plus-or-minus 3% guideline, which is the usual yardstick for keeping speedometer error small. But diameter is only the first check. The two sizes also differ in width by 10 mm and in rim size (13 inches against 14 inches), so a swap means different wheels as well unless the rims already match. Read the whole comparison before deciding — the clearance and load-index sections matter as much as the headline percentage.

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.

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

Measurement 175/60R13 165/60R14 Difference
Overall diameter 540.2 mm (21.3 in) 553.6 mm (21.8 in) +13.4 mm (+2.5%)
Sidewall height 105.0 mm 99.0 mm -6.0 mm
Circumference 1697.1 mm 1739.2 mm +42.1 mm
Revolutions per mile 948.3 925.3 -23.0
Section width 175 mm 165 mm -10 mm
Rim diameter 13 in 14 in +1 in

Diameter difference between 175/60R13 and 165/60R14: +13.4 mm (+2.5%)

Put the percentage in context. The plus-or-minus 3% guideline exists because small diameter changes produce small speedometer errors, and this change is +2.5%, which is inside that band. In revs per mile the shift is -23.0 (948.3 to 925.3), and in circumference it is +42.1 mm per turn. Those are not abstract figures: every mile you drive, the car covers +42.1 mm more or less per wheel revolution than the instruments expect, and the gap accumulates exactly like interest.

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

Here is what the speedometer does in practice. Fit 165/60R14 where 175/60R13 was, and the dial understates or overstates speed by 2.5%: indicated 30 mph is really 30.7 mph, indicated 50 mph is really 51.2 mph, and indicated 70 mph is really 71.7 mph. Swap back from 165/60R14 to 175/60R13 and the error flips sign — 70 mph indicated becomes 68.3 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 165/60R14 (from 175/60R13) Actual speed fitting 175/60R13 (from 165/60R14)
30 mph 30.7 mph 29.3 mph
50 mph 51.2 mph 48.8 mph
70 mph 71.7 mph 68.3 mph

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

Look at the sidewalls next. 105.0 mm on 175/60R13, 99.0 mm on 165/60R14: a difference of -6.0 mm. That is the flexible part of the tyre, and it is the first thing that absorbs a bump. A shorter sidewall transmits more of the road to the driver, which feels more direct but less forgiving on rough surfaces. Aspect ratio (60% vs 60%) is simply the sidewall expressed as a share of the width.

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

On width, the two sizes are 10 mm apart. The narrower tyre (165/60R14) offers less rubber on the road, which tends to mean lower rolling resistance and a small fuel saving, traded against a little dry grip. Do not expect a dramatic change in fuel use from a width change of this size; the bigger influences on fuel use are the tyre compound, the pressure and the way the car is driven.

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

Think of the gearing change as the diameter change in disguise. The revs-per-mile gap is -23.0, which is 2.5% 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 2.5% and no more. Small percentages mean small effects, which is another reason the plus-or-minus 3% guideline is a useful yardstick.

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

Whether 165/60R14 physically fits is a question for your car, not for this table. The numbers say it is taller by 13.4 mm and 10 mm narrower, and those are the dimensions that decide clearance — but the actual gaps depend on your arches, suspension and steering geometry. Check at full lock both ways, check with the suspension compressed, and check with the car loaded. Check the placard for the load index and speed rating, and check the rim width for a 165 mm tyre. A tyre professional can confirm all of it in one visit, and that confirmation is the step that turns a comparison into a fitment.

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

Choose on the basis of what matters to you, not on the headline alone. If ride comfort matters most, the sidewall change of -6.0 mm is the figure to weigh. If grip matters most, the width change of -10 mm is the one to weigh. If keeping the instruments accurate matters most, the diameter change of +2.5% is the one to weigh — and if it is outside the plus-or-minus 3% guideline, ask about recalibration. And if the answer to the clearance check is uncertain, that outranks all three: a tyre that rubs is not a viable option at any percentage.

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

Frequently asked questions

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

165/60R14 is +13.4 mm (+2.5%) larger in diameter than 175/60R13: 553.6 mm against 540.2 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 165/60R14 instead of 175/60R13?

The error follows the diameter ratio, +2.5%. At an indicated 30 mph the true speed would be 30.7 mph, at 50 mph indicated it would be 51.2 mph, and at 70 mph indicated it would be 71.7 mph. The full table in both directions is in the speedometer section above.

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

No — 165/60R14 is 165 mm wide against 175 mm for 175/60R13, a difference of -10 mm. A narrower tyre generally gives less rolling resistance and can behave better in standing water, with slightly less dry grip. Width also affects clearance, so check the arches and suspension at full lock.

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

Not necessarily. 165/60R14 is taller by 13.4 mm and 10 mm narrower, 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, 175/60R13 or 165/60R14?

Neither is better in general — it depends on what you want. 165/60R14 has a -6.0 mm sidewall difference, a -10 mm width difference and a +2.5% 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.