195/50R14 vs 205/45R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/50R14 | 205/45R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.7" | 21.3" | -1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 3.84" | 3.63" | -5.4 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 68.1" | 66.8" | -1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 930 | 948 | +1.9 % |
| Axle height | 10.84" | 10.63" | -5.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7" | 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 195/50R14. Fit 205/45R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.3 mph | -1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,809 on the road, so it over-counts by 191. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1085 times a minute, the second 1107.