205/55R17 vs 195/55R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/55R17 | 195/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.9" | 25.4" | -1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 4.44" | 4.22" | -4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 195 mm | -4.9 % |
| Circumference | 81.3" | 79.9" | -1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 779 | 793 | +1.7 % |
| Axle height | 12.94" | 12.72" | -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 205/55R17. Fit 195/55R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 90 mph | 88.5 mph | -1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,833 on the road, so it over-counts by 167. At a true 70 mph the first turns 909 times a minute, the second 925.
What drivers reported
205/55R17 carries 3 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/55R17.