195/55R16 vs 205/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/55R16 | 205/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.4" | 24.9" | +1.8 % |
| Sidewall | 4.22" | 4.44" | +5.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 76.8" | 78.2" | +1.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 825 | 811 | -1.8 % |
| Axle height | 12.22" | 12.44" | +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 195/55R16. Fit 205/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 70 mph | 71.2 mph | +1.2 |
| 90 mph | 91.6 mph | +1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,177 on the road, so it under-counts by 177. At a true 70 mph the first turns 963 times a minute, the second 946.