195/60R16 vs 215/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/60R16 | 215/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.2" | 25.3" | +0.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.61" | 4.66" | +1.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 79.2" | 79.5" | +0.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 800 | 797 | -0.4 % |
| Axle height | 12.61" | 12.66" | +1.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7" | 6–8" | overlap 6–7" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 195/60R16. Fit 215/55R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.1 mph | +0.1 |
| 50 mph | 50.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 70 mph | 70.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 90 mph | 90.4 mph | +0.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,039 on the road, so it under-counts by 39. At a true 70 mph the first turns 933 times a minute, the second 930.