205/55R14 vs 195/55R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/55R14 | 195/55R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 22.9" | 22.4" | -1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.44" | 4.22" | -4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 195 mm | -4.9 % |
| Circumference | 71.9" | 70.5" | -1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 882 | 899 | +1.9 % |
| Axle height | 11.44" | 11.22" | -5.5 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 205/55R14. Fit 195/55R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.7 mph | -1.3 |
| 90 mph | 88.3 mph | -1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,811 on the road, so it over-counts by 189. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1028 times a minute, the second 1048.
What drivers reported
205/55R14 carries 1 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/55R14.