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Sidewall

195/40R14 vs 205/40R14

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

78.0 mm sidewall512 mm · 20.1"
195/40R14
82.0 mm sidewall520 mm · 20.5"
205/40R14

Side by side


Measure195/40R14205/40R14Change
Overall height20.1"20.5"+1.6 %
Sidewall3.07"3.23"+5.1 %
Section width195 mm205 mm+5.1 %
Circumference63.3"64.3"+1.6 %
Revs per mile1001986-1.6 %
Axle height10.07"10.23"+4.0 mm
Approved rim width5.5–7"5.5–7.5"overlap 5.5–7"

Both are approved on a rim 5.5" to 7" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.

What the speedometer will say

Calibrated for 195/40R14. Fit 205/40R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph30.5 mph+0.5
50 mph50.8 mph+0.8
70 mph71.1 mph+1.1
90 mph91.4 mph+1.4

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,156 on the road, so it under-counts by 156. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1168 times a minute, the second 1150.

Everything about 195/40R14 · Everything about 205/40R14