195/65R15 vs 215/55R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/65R15 | 215/55R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 24.3" | -2.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.99" | 4.66" | -6.7 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 78.5" | 76.4" | -2.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 807 | 830 | +2.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.49" | 12.16" | -8.5 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 195/65R15. Fit 215/55R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 50 mph | 48.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 70 mph | 68.1 mph | -1.9 |
| 90 mph | 87.6 mph | -2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,732 on the road, so it over-counts by 268. At a true 70 mph the first turns 942 times a minute, the second 968.
What drivers reported
195/65R15 carries 145 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 215/55R15.