195/60R16 vs 175/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/60R16 | 175/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.2" | 25.6" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.61" | 4.82" | +4.7 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 175 mm | -10.3 % |
| Circumference | 79.2" | 80.6" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 800 | 786 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.61" | 12.82" | +5.5 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 195/60R16. Fit 175/70R16 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 | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,172 on the road, so it under-counts by 172. At a true 70 mph the first turns 933 times a minute, the second 917.
What drivers reported
195/60R16 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 175/70R16.