175/60R17 vs 195/55R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/60R17 | 195/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 25.4" | +0.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.13" | 4.22" | +2.1 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 195 mm | +11.4 % |
| Circumference | 79.4" | 79.9" | +0.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 798 | 793 | -0.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.63" | 12.72" | +2.3 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 195/55R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 90 mph | 90.6 mph | +0.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,070 on the road, so it under-counts by 70. At a true 70 mph the first turns 931 times a minute, the second 925.
What drivers reported
175/60R17 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/55R17.