215/55R15 vs 205/60R15
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 | 215/55R15 | 205/60R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.3" | 24.7" | +1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 4.66" | 4.84" | +4.0 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 76.4" | 77.6" | +1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 830 | 817 | -1.5 % |
| Axle height | 12.16" | 12.34" | +4.8 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 215/55R15. Fit 205/60R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.4 mph | +1.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,154 on the road, so it under-counts by 154. At a true 70 mph the first turns 968 times a minute, the second 953.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 215/55R15. 205/60R15 carries 32.