195/80R15 vs 215/75R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 195/80R15 | 215/75R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.3" | 27.7" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.14" | 6.35" | +3.4 % |
| Section width | 195 mm | 215 mm | +10.3 % |
| Circumference | 85.7" | 87.0" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 739 | 728 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.64" | 13.85" | +5.3 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 195/80R15. Fit 215/75R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,152 on the road, so it under-counts by 152. At a true 70 mph the first turns 862 times a minute, the second 850.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 195/80R15. 215/75R15 carries 41.