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Sidewall

195/80R15 vs 205/80R15

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

156 mm sidewall693 mm · 27.3"
195/80R15
164 mm sidewall709 mm · 27.9"
205/80R15

Side by side


Measure195/80R15205/80R15Change
Overall height27.3"27.9"+2.3 %
Sidewall6.14"6.46"+5.1 %
Section width195 mm205 mm+5.1 %
Circumference85.7"87.7"+2.3 %
Revs per mile739723-2.3 %
Axle height13.64"13.96"+8.0 mm
Approved rim width5.5–7"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 195/80R15. Fit 205/80R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph30.7 mph+0.7
50 mph51.2 mph+1.2
70 mph71.6 mph+1.6
90 mph92.1 mph+2.1

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,231 on the road, so it under-counts by 231. At a true 70 mph the first turns 862 times a minute, the second 843.

Everything about 195/80R15 · Everything about 205/80R15