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Sidewall

195/80R16 vs 205/80R16

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

156 mm sidewall718 mm · 28.3"
195/80R16
164 mm sidewall734 mm · 28.9"
205/80R16

Side by side


Measure195/80R16205/80R16Change
Overall height28.3"28.9"+2.2 %
Sidewall6.14"6.46"+5.1 %
Section width195 mm205 mm+5.1 %
Circumference88.9"90.8"+2.2 %
Revs per mile713698-2.2 %
Axle height14.14"14.46"+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 195/80R16. Fit 205/80R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.


Needle saysYou are doingOut by
30 mph30.7 mph+0.7
50 mph51.1 mph+1.1
70 mph71.6 mph+1.6
90 mph92.0 mph+2.0

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,223 on the road, so it under-counts by 223. At a true 70 mph the first turns 832 times a minute, the second 814.

Everything about 195/80R16 · Everything about 205/80R16