195/60R18 vs 205/60R18
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 | 195/60R18 | 205/60R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.2" | 27.7" | +1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.61" | 4.84" | +5.1 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 85.5" | 87.0" | +1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 741 | 728 | -1.7 % |
| Axle height | 13.61" | 13.84" | +6.0 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 195/60R18. Fit 205/60R18 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 10,174 on the road, so it under-counts by 174. At a true 70 mph the first turns 865 times a minute, the second 850.