185/65R14 vs 205/60R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/65R14 | 205/60R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.5" | 23.7" | +0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.73" | 4.84" | +2.3 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 205 mm | +10.8 % |
| Circumference | 73.7" | 74.4" | +0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 859 | 852 | -0.9 % |
| Axle height | 11.73" | 11.84" | +2.8 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 185/65R14. Fit 205/60R14 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 | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.8 mph | +0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,092 on the road, so it under-counts by 92. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1003 times a minute, the second 993.
What drivers reported
185/65R14 carries 76 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 205/60R14.