205/65R20 vs 205/70R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/65R20 | 205/70R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.5" | 31.3" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 5.25" | 5.65" | +7.7 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 205 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 95.8" | 98.3" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 661 | 644 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 15.25" | 15.65" | +10.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 5.5–7.5" | 5.5–7.5" | overlap 5.5–7.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 5.5" 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 205/65R20. Fit 205/70R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,265 on the road, so it under-counts by 265. At a true 70 mph the first turns 772 times a minute, the second 752.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 205/65R20. 205/70R20 carries 2.