195/65R18 vs 205/60R18
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 | 195/65R18 | 205/60R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.0" | 27.7" | -1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.99" | 4.84" | -3.0 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 205 mm | +5.1 % |
| Circumference | 87.9" | 87.0" | -1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 721 | 728 | +1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.99" | 13.84" | -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 195/65R18. Fit 205/60R18 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 | 69.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 90 mph | 89.1 mph | -0.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,894 on the road, so it over-counts by 106. At a true 70 mph the first turns 841 times a minute, the second 850.