185/60R16 vs 205/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/60R16 | 205/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 24.1" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.37" | 4.04" | -7.7 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 205 mm | +10.8 % |
| Circumference | 77.7" | 75.6" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 815 | 838 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.37" | 12.04" | -8.5 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 185/60R16. Fit 205/50R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,729 on the road, so it over-counts by 271. At a true 70 mph the first turns 951 times a minute, the second 978.