195/70R18 vs 215/60R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/70R18 | 215/60R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.7" | 28.2" | -2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.37" | 5.08" | -5.5 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 90.3" | 88.5" | -2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 702 | 716 | +2.1 % |
| Axle height | 14.37" | 14.08" | -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 195/70R18. Fit 215/60R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,795 on the road, so it over-counts by 205. At a true 70 mph the first turns 818 times a minute, the second 836.
What drivers reported
195/70R18 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 215/60R18.