195/55R15 vs 205/50R15
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.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/55R15 | 205/50R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.4" | 23.1" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.22" | 4.04" | -4.4 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 73.7" | 72.5" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 860 | 874 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 11.72" | 11.54" | -4.8 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 195/55R15. Fit 205/50R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,840 on the road, so it over-counts by 160. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1004 times a minute, the second 1020.