205/45R17 vs 195/45R17
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 | 205/45R17 | 195/45R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.3" | 23.9" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.63" | 3.45" | -4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 195 mm | -4.9 % |
| Circumference | 76.2" | 75.1" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 831 | 844 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.13" | 11.95" | -4.5 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 205/45R17. Fit 195/45R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.7 mph | -1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,854 on the road, so it over-counts by 146. At a true 70 mph the first turns 970 times a minute, the second 984.
What drivers reported
205/45R17 carries 5 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/45R17.