195/60R17 vs 215/50R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/60R17 | 215/50R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.2" | 25.5" | -2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.61" | 4.23" | -8.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 82.3" | 80.0" | -2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 769 | 792 | +2.9 % |
| Axle height | 13.11" | 12.73" | -9.5 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 195/60R17. Fit 215/50R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.4 mph | -2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,715 on the road, so it over-counts by 285. At a true 70 mph the first turns 898 times a minute, the second 924.