205/40R15 vs 195/45R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/40R15 | 195/45R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 21.5" | 21.9" | +2.1 % |
| Sidewall | 3.23" | 3.45" | +7.0 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 195 mm | -4.9 % |
| Circumference | 67.4" | 68.8" | +2.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 940 | 921 | -2.1 % |
| Axle height | 10.73" | 10.95" | +5.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7.5" | 5.5–7" | 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 205/40R15. Fit 195/45R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 91.9 mph | +1.9 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,211 on the road, so it under-counts by 211. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1097 times a minute, the second 1074.