175/65R15 vs 195/60R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 175/65R15 | 195/60R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.0" | 24.2" | +1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.48" | 4.61" | +2.9 % |
| Section width | 175 mm | 195 mm | +11.4 % |
| Circumference | 75.3" | 76.1" | +1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 842 | 833 | -1.1 % |
| Axle height | 11.98" | 12.11" | +3.3 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 175/65R15. Fit 195/60R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 70 mph | 70.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 90 mph | 91.0 mph | +1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,107 on the road, so it under-counts by 107. At a true 70 mph the first turns 982 times a minute, the second 972.