185/60R15 vs 205/55R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/60R15 | 205/55R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.7" | 23.9" | +0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.37" | 4.44" | +1.6 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 205 mm | +10.8 % |
| Circumference | 74.6" | 75.0" | +0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 850 | 845 | -0.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.87" | 11.94" | +1.8 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 185/60R15. Fit 205/55R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.5 mph | +0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,058 on the road, so it under-counts by 58. At a true 70 mph the first turns 991 times a minute, the second 985.