TireFitCalc

Fitment comparison

165/70 R13versus155/80 R13

Δ Ø +17.0 mmSpeedo +3.03%Borderline

155/80 R13 stands taller than 165/70 R13 — bigger rolling diameter, slightly more clearance, calmer cruise revs.

Going from 165/70 R13 to 155/80 R13 raises the aspect ratio by 10 points on the same 13-inch wheel. This setup noticeably changes overall diameter compared to OEM.

The speedometer error is noticeable and may warrant a recalibration if you rely on indicated speed. The taller sidewall adds cushioning over potholes and rougher roads, with a softer overall ride. Less width usually means lower rolling resistance and easier chain or winter-tire fitment. Diameter delta falls in the cautious 3–5% range, where speedometer recalibration and a careful clearance check are worth doing.

TakeA comfort-leaning direction that's easier on wheels and suspension over rough surfaces.

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Quick fitment verdict

165/70 R13 → 155/80 R13 at a glance

OEM Safe

Borderline

Noticeable drift from OEM — drivable, but recalibration is wise.

Fender Clearance

Likely rubs

Significantly wider/taller — rubbing risk on liners or fender lip is real.

Speedometer Impact

+3.03%

Dash reads 103.0 km/h at a true 100 km/h — visible drift.

Daily Driving

Aggressive

Geometry deviates enough to matter — confirm clearance before daily use.

Side-by-side telemetry

Dimensional read-out

Current

165/70 R13

Diameter
561.2 mm
Sidewall
115.5 mm
Wheel
13″
Width
165 mm
NewNew

155/80 R13

Diameter
578.2 mm
Sidewall
124.0 mm
Wheel
13″
Width
155 mm

Real-world effects

How this swap actually feels

  • Steering response
    47/100 · Softer turn-in
  • Ride comfort
    73/100 · More cushion
  • Fuel economy
    53/100 · Slightly lower drag
  • Highway cruising
    70/100 · Lower cruise revs
  • Pothole resistance
    70/100 · More wheel protection

Shareable card

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Export a garage-grade telemetry card of this comparison — perfect for forums, Reddit and Discord.

Ride height

Lifted stance

+8.5 mm

Chassis sits higher — slightly more clearance, wheel-gap visually grows.

CurrentNew281 mm289 mmRIDE HEIGHT Δ+8.5 mm

New tire lifts the chassis by ~8.5 mm — more clearance, slightly more wheel-gap.

Suspension travel · arch clearance

Wheel gap

Wheel gap visually increases

+8.5 mm

How the arch-to-tire gap reads from across the parking lot — the visual stance change everyone notices first.

18px

165/70 R13

21px

155/80 R13

Wheel-gap Δ+8.5 mm

Static · unloaded chassis

Fender relationship

Tucked · Flush · Poke

Stance language

The visual relationship between the tire's outer edge and the fender lip — the lens enthusiasts use to judge a fitment.

Tucked

Inside fender

Flush

Lip-aligned

Poke

Outside fender

Width & offset dependent

Speedometer reality

Dash reads 103.0 km/h

+3.03%

Taller rubber: at a true 100 km/h your dashboard reads optimistically high.

020406080100120140KM/H+3.03%DRIFTINDICATED100 km/hACTUAL103.0 km/h

ABS · ESP · cruise control

Setup telemetry

How this setup changes the car

Driver-perspective read-out of the 165/70 R13 → 155/80 R13 swap — steering, comfort, stance and dash behavior in plain enthusiast language.

Steering feel

+8.5 mm sidewall

Softer, more relaxed turn-in

Taller sidewall flexes a touch more before loading the contact patch — calmer, comfort-tuned.

Ride firmness

70% → 80%

Softer over potholes and joints

Bumps and expansion joints are absorbed better — a comfort win for daily driving.

Fender relationship

-10 mm width

Fender gap reads near-identical

Width delta is too small to change stance — same visual signature as OEM.

Speedometer behavior

+3.03%

Noticeable speedo drift

Drift is visible at highway speeds; ABS still works but loses a sliver of precision.

Daily drivability

Ø +17.0 mm

Aggressive setup — verify before daily use

Geometry deviates enough to matter — check clearance, recalibrate the dash, then re-evaluate.

Direct answer

Is 155/80 R13 OEM-safe?

Borderline. Overall diameter changes by +3.03% versus 165/70 R13. Borderline. Drivable, but speedometer drift becomes noticeable and ABS calibration is affected.

Direct answer

Will 155/80 R13 rub?

Possibly. Width changes by -10 mm and diameter by +17.0 mm. Possible rub at full lock or full suspension compression — verify fender lip and inner strut clearance before committing.

Direct answer

Does the speedometer change?

Yes — by +3.03%. Swapping 165/70 R13 for 155/80 R13 changes overall diameter, so at an indicated 100 km/h your true speed becomes 103.0 km/h. That's noticeable drift but usually safe.

Direct answer

Does lower sidewall affect comfort?

Yes — softer ride. Sidewall changes by +8.5 mm (70% → 80%). Ride softens and absorbs bumps better, with slightly less precise turn-in.

Current Tire

165/70R13

New Tire

155/80R13

Slight Difference

Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended

Diameter change

+17.0 mm

3.03%

Speedometer at 100

103.0 km/h

+3.03% error

Ground clearance

+8.5 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

+8.5 mm

revs/km: 550.5

Compare visually

Permalink for this comparison:

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Detailed comparison

Metric165/70 R13155/80 R13Difference
Overall diameter561.2 mm578.2 mm+17.0 mm (+3.03%)
Sidewall height115.5 mm124.0 mm+8.5 mm
Circumference1.763 m1.816 m+53.4 mm
Revs / km567.2550.5-16.7
Ground clearancereference+8.5 mm+8.5 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h103.0 km/h+3.03 km/h

Verdict: warning

Between 3% and 5% — noticeable speedometer drift; recalibration may be advisable.

Dimensional comparison

Side-by-side

Scaled engineering side-profile of both tires. Width, sidewall and overall diameter are dimensioned so you can see the change at a glance — without parsing the numbers.

Current

165/70 R13
Width 165 mmSW 116Ø 561mmR13
Profile
70%
Circumference
1.763 m

New

155/80 R13
Width 155 mmSW 124Ø 578mmR13
Profile
80%
Circumference
1.816 m

Side-by-side fitment

Geometry

Current

165/70 R13
Section width
165 mm
Aspect ratio
70%
Sidewall
115.5 mm
Wheel diameter
13″(330 mm)
Overall diameter
561.2 mm(22.09″)
Circumference
1.763 m
Revs / km
567.2

New

155/80 R13
Section width
155 mm
Aspect ratio
80%
Sidewall
124.0 mm
Wheel diameter
13″(330 mm)
Overall diameter
578.2 mm(22.76″)
Circumference
1.816 m
Revs / km
550.5

Real-world consequences

Pros / cons

Narrower tire (-10 mm)

Section width
  • Better aquaplaning resistance
  • Lower rolling resistance and slightly better MPG
  • Quieter ride, less tramlining
  • Lighter unsprung mass on the corner
  • Less dry grip at the limit
  • Smaller contact patch under hard braking
  • Stance can look tucked or undersized

Taller sidewall (+10% aspect)

Sidewall
  • Plusher ride, better pothole and curb protection
  • More forgiving on bad roads and trails
  • Lower wheel-damage risk on impacts
  • More sidewall flex, softer steering feel
  • Slightly delayed turn-in response

Taller overall (+17.0 mm)

Rolling diameter
  • Higher ground clearance and approach angle
  • Longer effective gearing — calmer highway revs
  • Bigger contact patch lengthwise
  • Speedometer reads low by ~3.0%
  • Reduced fender, strut and bumpstop clearance
  • Slower 0-60, more downshifts under load

How it changes driving feel

Seat-of-the-pants

Steering response

Softer, slower

Ride comfort

Plusher ride

Road noise

Similar cabin noise

Wet / aquaplaning

Comparable wet behavior

Fuel economy

Negligible change

Curb / pothole protection

More sidewall, more cushion

Fitment risk check

Verify before install
Speedometer drift

~3.0% — borderline; recalibration recommended.

Cluster preview

Borderline
020406080100120140KM/H+3.03%DRIFTINDICATED100 km/hACTUAL103.0 km/h

Speedometer impact

At a true 100 km/h, your dashboard will read 103.0 km/h after switching to 155/80 R13 — a +3.03% offset. Use the speedometer error calculator for any indicated speed, and the speedometer error guide for the full background.

Ground clearance change

The new tire's half-diameter changes ride height by +8.5 mm. Small differences are absorbed by suspension travel, but anything beyond ±10 mm can affect headlight aim, fender clearance and bump-stop margin. See the plus-sizing guide before committing.

Back to

165/70 R13

Back to

155/80 R13

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