195/75R15 vs 215/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/75R15 | 215/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.5" | 26.9" | +1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 5.93" | +2.9 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 83.3" | 84.4" | +1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 761 | 751 | -1.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.26" | 13.43" | +4.3 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 195/75R15. Fit 215/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.1 mph | +1.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,126 on the road, so it under-counts by 126. At a true 70 mph the first turns 887 times a minute, the second 876.