195/70R14 vs 215/60R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/70R14 | 215/60R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.7" | 24.2" | -2.4 % |
| Sidewall | 5.37" | 5.08" | -5.5 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 77.7" | 75.9" | -2.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 815 | 835 | +2.4 % |
| Axle height | 12.37" | 12.08" | -7.5 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 195/70R14. Fit 215/60R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 70 mph | 68.3 mph | -1.7 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,761 on the road, so it over-counts by 239. At a true 70 mph the first turns 951 times a minute, the second 974.