205/50R20 vs 215/50R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/50R20 | 215/50R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.1" | 28.5" | +1.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.04" | 4.23" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 215 mm | +4.9 % |
| Circumference | 88.2" | 89.4" | +1.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 718 | 709 | -1.4 % |
| Axle height | 14.04" | 14.23" | +5.0 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 205/50R20. Fit 215/50R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 71.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 90 mph | 91.3 mph | +1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,140 on the road, so it under-counts by 140. At a true 70 mph the first turns 838 times a minute, the second 827.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 205/50R20. 215/50R20 carries 1.