205/75R15 vs 215/75R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 205/75R15 | 215/75R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.1" | 27.7" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 6.05" | 6.35" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 215 mm | +4.9 % |
| Circumference | 85.2" | 87.0" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 744 | 728 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 13.55" | 13.85" | +7.5 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 205/75R15. Fit 215/75R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,218 on the road, so it under-counts by 218. At a true 70 mph the first turns 868 times a minute, the second 850.