195/65R16 vs 215/55R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/65R16 | 215/55R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.0" | 25.3" | -2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.99" | 4.66" | -6.7 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 81.6" | 79.5" | -2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 776 | 797 | +2.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.99" | 12.66" | -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 195/65R16. Fit 215/55R16 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 | 68.2 mph | -1.8 |
| 90 mph | 87.7 mph | -2.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,742 on the road, so it over-counts by 258. At a true 70 mph the first turns 906 times a minute, the second 930.