205/45R16 vs 215/45R16
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 | 205/45R16 | 215/45R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.3" | 23.6" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.63" | 3.81" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 215 mm | +4.9 % |
| Circumference | 73.1" | 74.2" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 867 | 854 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 11.63" | 11.81" | +4.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7.5" | 6–8" | overlap 6–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 205/45R16. Fit 215/45R16 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 1011 times a minute, the second 996.