215/50R17 vs 195/55R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/50R17 | 195/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.5" | 25.4" | -0.1 % |
| Sidewall | 4.23" | 4.22" | -0.2 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 80.0" | 79.9" | -0.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 792 | 793 | +0.1 % |
| Axle height | 12.73" | 12.72" | -0.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 5.5–7" | overlap 6–7" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 7" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 215/50R17. Fit 195/55R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 50 mph | 50.0 mph | -0.0 |
| 70 mph | 69.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 90 mph | 89.9 mph | -0.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,992 on the road, so it over-counts by 8. At a true 70 mph the first turns 924 times a minute, the second 925.
What drivers reported
215/50R17 carries 65 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/55R17.