185/70R13 vs 195/60R14: Tyre Size Comparison, Diameter Difference & Speedometer Effect

Comparing 185/70R13 with 195/60R14 comes down to four numbers for each size: diameter, sidewall, circumference and revs per mile. 195/60R14 is the taller tyre: its diameter is 589.6 mm against 589.2 mm, +0.4 mm (+0.1%) larger. The width changes by +10 mm (185 mm to 195 mm) and the sidewall by -12.5 mm. This page puts both sizes side by side, works out the diameter difference in millimetres and percent, shows the speedometer error in both directions at 30, 50 and 70 mph, and explains what the change means for ride, grip and clearance — so you can judge the swap with the actual figures in front of you.

The short version: a +0.1% 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.

185/70R13 vs 195/60R14 side by side

Measurement 185/70R13 195/60R14 Difference
Overall diameter 589.2 mm (23.2 in) 589.6 mm (23.2 in) +0.4 mm (+0.1%)
Sidewall height 129.5 mm 117.0 mm -12.5 mm
Circumference 1851.0 mm 1852.3 mm +1.3 mm
Revolutions per mile 869.4 868.8 -0.6
Section width 185 mm 195 mm +10 mm
Rim diameter 13 in 14 in +1 in

Diameter difference between 185/70R13 and 195/60R14: +0.4 mm (+0.1%)

The diameter gap of +0.4 mm (+0.1%) is the number to carry away from this section. It is inside the plus-or-minus 3% guideline, and it shows up directly in the speedometer tables below. The circumference difference of +1.3 mm and the revs-per-mile difference of -0.6 are the same change expressed differently — the first is what the road sees, the second is what the car's sensors count. Neither is a safety judgement on its own; both are inputs to the fitment checks further down the page.

Speedometer error: 185/70R13 to 195/60R14 and back

Going from 185/70R13 to 195/60R14, the diameter grows by +0.1%, so the true speed is the indicated speed multiplied by 1.001. At 30 mph on the dial the car is really doing 30.0 mph; at 50 mph indicated it is 50.0 mph; at 70 mph indicated it is 70.0 mph. The speedometer therefore reads low after the change, which matters most at motorway speed, where even a small percentage is a real difference in miles per hour. Going the other way, from 195/60R14 back to 185/70R13, the error reverses exactly: the ratio becomes 0.999, so 70 mph indicated is really 70.0 mph.

Indicated speed Actual speed fitting 195/60R14 (from 185/70R13) Actual speed fitting 185/70R13 (from 195/60R14)
30 mph 30.0 mph 30.0 mph
50 mph 50.0 mph 50.0 mph
70 mph 70.0 mph 70.0 mph

Sidewall height and ride comfort: 185/70R13 vs 195/60R14

Sidewall height moves by -12.5 mm between these two sizes (129.5 mm to 117.0 mm), and that is enough to feel. A taller sidewall flexes more, which softens sharp impacts and gives the tyre more give over potholes; a shorter sidewall flexes less, which sharpens the steering response and leaves the rim closer to the road surface on a hard hit. Which of those you get depends on the direction of the change — here the sidewall shrinks — and on the aspect ratio shift from 70% to 60%. That is the point this page works through for 185/70r13 vs 195/60r14 tyre size comparison.

Width, grip and fuel use: 185/70R13 vs 195/60R14

Width changes by +10 mm, from 185 mm to 195 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. That is the point this page works through for 185/70r13 vs 195/60r14 tyre size comparison.

Revolutions per mile and gearing: 185/70R13 vs 195/60R14

The revs-per-mile figures (869.4 for 185/70R13, 868.8 for 195/60R14) describe the gearing effect. 195/60R14 turns -0.6 fewer times per mile, so at any given road speed the engine turns slightly slower with 195/60R14 fitted — the gearing is effectively longer. That can make cruising a touch more relaxed and can trim fuel use slightly, but it also means slightly less acceleration from the same throttle opening, because each gear is effectively taller. The change is 0.1% either way, so the effect on everyday driving is subtle rather than transformative.

Will 195/60R14 clear after 185/70R13? What to check before fitting

Clearance is the check the numbers cannot do for you. 195/60R14 is taller and 10 mm wider than 185/70R13, so check the wheel arches, the suspension components and the steering lock: turn the wheel fully in both directions and check for contact, and check again with the suspension compressed and the car loaded as it will actually be used. A size that clears when the car is stationary and unloaded can still rub over a bump or at full lock. This page does not claim that 195/60R14 clears your car, and no diameter table can — only a physical check on your vehicle can confirm it. Also confirm the load index and speed rating of 195/60R14 meet what your placard asks for, and that the 14-inch rim suits the car.

Which size suits which priority: 185/70R13 or 195/60R14

The decision comes down to priorities. Comfort follows the sidewall (-12.5 mm here). Grip follows the width (+10 mm here). Instrument accuracy follows the diameter (+0.1% here). Gearing and cruising engine speed follow the revs-per-mile change (-0.6). 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 185/70R13 vs 195/60R14 comparisons and tools

Frequently asked questions

What is the diameter difference between 185/70R13 and 195/60R14?

195/60R14 is +0.4 mm (+0.1%) larger in diameter than 185/70R13: 589.6 mm against 589.2 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 195/60R14 instead of 185/70R13?

On this page, 185/70r13 vs 195/60r14 tyre size comparison is the case in point: The error follows the diameter ratio, +0.1%. At an indicated 30 mph the true speed would be 30.0 mph, at 50 mph indicated it would be 50.0 mph, and at 70 mph indicated it would be 70.0 mph. The full table in both directions is in the speedometer section above.

Is 195/60R14 wider than 185/70R13, and does that matter?

Yes — 195/60R14 is 195 mm wide against 185 mm for 185/70R13, 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 195/60R14 fit my car if 185/70R13 fits?

Not necessarily. 195/60R14 is taller by 0.4 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, 185/70R13 or 195/60R14?

Neither is better in general — it depends on what you want. 195/60R14 has a -12.5 mm sidewall difference, a +10 mm width difference and a +0.1% 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.