175/60R17 vs 195/50R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/60R17 | 195/50R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 24.7" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.13" | 3.84" | -7.1 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 195 mm | +11.4 % |
| Circumference | 79.4" | 77.5" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 798 | 817 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.63" | 12.34" | -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 175/60R17. Fit 195/50R17 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 | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,766 on the road, so it over-counts by 234. At a true 70 mph the first turns 931 times a minute, the second 953.
What drivers reported
175/60R17 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/50R17.