185/55R13 vs 205/50R13
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/55R13 | 205/50R13 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.0" | 21.1" | +0.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.01" | 4.04" | +0.7 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 205 mm | +10.8 % |
| Circumference | 66.0" | 66.2" | +0.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 960 | 957 | -0.3 % |
| Axle height | 10.51" | 10.54" | +0.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 5.5–6.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 5.5" to 6.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 185/55R13. Fit 205/50R13 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 50 mph | 50.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 70 mph | 70.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 90 mph | 90.3 mph | +0.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,028 on the road, so it under-counts by 28. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1120 times a minute, the second 1117.