205/65R15 vs 195/65R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.0 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/65R15 | 195/65R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.5" | 25.0" | -2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 5.25" | 4.99" | -4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 195 mm | -4.9 % |
| Circumference | 80.1" | 78.5" | -2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 791 | 807 | +2.0 % |
| Axle height | 12.75" | 12.49" | -6.5 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 205/65R15. Fit 195/65R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 50 mph | 49.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 70 mph | 68.6 mph | -1.4 |
| 90 mph | 88.2 mph | -1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,799 on the road, so it over-counts by 201. At a true 70 mph the first turns 923 times a minute, the second 942.