195/50R15 vs 175/60R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/50R15 | 175/60R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.7" | 23.3" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 3.84" | 4.13" | +7.7 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 175 mm | -10.3 % |
| Circumference | 71.2" | 73.1" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 889 | 867 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.34" | 11.63" | +7.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7" | 5–6" | overlap 5.5–6" |
Both are approved on a rim 5.5" to 6" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 195/50R15. Fit 175/60R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.8 mph | +1.8 |
| 90 mph | 92.3 mph | +2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,260 on the road, so it under-counts by 260. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1038 times a minute, the second 1011.
What drivers reported
195/50R15 carries 6 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 175/60R15.