215/40R14 vs 205/40R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/40R14 | 205/40R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 20.8" | 20.5" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 3.39" | 3.23" | -4.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 65.3" | 64.3" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 971 | 986 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 10.39" | 10.23" | -4.0 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 5.5–7.5" | 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 215/40R14. Fit 205/40R14 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 | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.6 mph | -1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,848 on the road, so it over-counts by 152. At a true 70 mph the first turns 1133 times a minute, the second 1150.