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Sidewall

195/85R14 vs 205/85R14

Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.

166 mm sidewall687 mm · 27.1"
195/85R14
174 mm sidewall704 mm · 27.7"
205/85R14

Side by side


Measure195/85R14205/85R14Change
Overall height27.1"27.7"+2.5 %
Sidewall6.53"6.86"+5.1 %
Section width195 mm205 mm+5.1 %
Circumference85.0"87.1"+2.5 %
Revs per mile746728-2.5 %
Axle height13.53"13.86"+8.5 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 195/85R14. Fit 205/85R14 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 mph71.7 mph+1.7
90 mph92.2 mph+2.2

The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,247 on the road, so it under-counts by 247. At a true 70 mph the first turns 870 times a minute, the second 849.

Everything about 195/85R14 · Everything about 205/85R14