215/45R16 vs 205/50R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/45R16 | 205/50R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23.6" | 24.1" | +1.9 % |
| Sidewall | 3.81" | 4.04" | +5.9 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 74.2" | 75.6" | +1.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 854 | 838 | -1.9 % |
| Axle height | 11.81" | 12.04" | +5.8 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 215/45R16. Fit 205/50R16 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 | 71.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 90 mph | 91.7 mph | +1.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,192 on the road, so it under-counts by 192. At a true 70 mph the first turns 996 times a minute, the second 978.