195/55R14 vs 205/55R14
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 | 195/55R14 | 205/55R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.4" | 22.9" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.22" | 4.44" | +5.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 70.5" | 71.9" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 899 | 882 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 11.22" | 11.44" | +5.5 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 195/55R14. Fit 205/55R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,193 on the road, so it under-counts by 193. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1048 times a minute, the second 1028.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 195/55R14. 205/55R14 carries 1.