175/60R16 vs 195/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/60R16 | 195/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.3" | 23.7" | -2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.13" | 3.84" | -7.1 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 195 mm | +11.4 % |
| Circumference | 76.2" | 74.4" | -2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 831 | 852 | +2.4 % |
| Axle height | 12.13" | 11.84" | -7.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6" | 5.5–7" | overlap 5.5–6" |
Both are approved on a rim 5.5" to 6" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 175/60R16. Fit 195/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.8 mph | -2.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,757 on the road, so it over-counts by 243. At a true 70 mph the first turns 970 times a minute, the second 994.