205/85R20 vs 215/85R20
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 | 205/85R20 | 215/85R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.7" | 34.4" | +2.0 % |
| Sidewall | 6.86" | 7.19" | +4.9 % |
| Section width | 205 mm | 215 mm | +4.9 % |
| Circumference | 105.9" | 108.0" | +2.0 % |
| Revs per mile | 598 | 586 | -2.0 % |
| Axle height | 16.86" | 17.19" | +8.5 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 205/85R20. Fit 215/85R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 50 mph | 51.0 mph | +1.0 |
| 70 mph | 71.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 90 mph | 91.8 mph | +1.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,198 on the road, so it under-counts by 198. At a true 70 mph the first turns 698 times a minute, the second 684.