195/65R17 vs 205/60R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/65R17 | 205/60R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.0" | 26.7" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.99" | 4.84" | -3.0 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 84.8" | 83.8" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 748 | 756 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.49" | 13.34" | -3.8 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 195/65R17. Fit 205/60R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 90 mph | 89.0 mph | -1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,891 on the road, so it over-counts by 109. At a true 70 mph the first turns 872 times a minute, the second 882.
What drivers reported
195/65R17 carries 2 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 205/60R17.