185/60R18 vs 195/55R18
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 | 185/60R18 | 195/55R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 26.4" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.37" | 4.22" | -3.4 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 195 mm | +5.4 % |
| Circumference | 84.0" | 83.1" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 754 | 763 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.37" | 13.22" | -3.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5–6.5" | 5.5–7" | 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 185/60R18. Fit 195/55R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,890 on the road, so it over-counts by 110. At a true 70 mph the first turns 880 times a minute, the second 890.