215/50R17 vs 195/60R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/50R17 | 195/60R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.5" | 26.2" | +2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 4.23" | 4.61" | +8.8 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 80.0" | 82.3" | +2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 792 | 769 | -2.9 % |
| Axle height | 12.73" | 13.11" | +9.5 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 195/60R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 50 mph | 51.5 mph | +1.5 |
| 70 mph | 72.1 mph | +2.1 |
| 90 mph | 92.6 mph | +2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,294 on the road, so it under-counts by 294. At a true 70 mph the first turns 924 times a minute, the second 898.