185/80R15 vs 205/75R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 185/80R15 | 205/75R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 27.1" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.83" | 6.05" | +3.9 % |
| Section width | 185 mm | 205 mm | +10.8 % |
| Circumference | 83.7" | 85.2" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 757 | 744 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 13.33" | 13.55" | +5.8 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 185/80R15. Fit 205/75R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,170 on the road, so it under-counts by 170. At a true 70 mph the first turns 883 times a minute, the second 868.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 185/80R15. 205/75R15 carries 84.