215/55R16 vs 195/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.4 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/55R16 | 195/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 25.2" | -0.4 % |
| Sidewall | 4.66" | 4.61" | -1.1 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 79.5" | 79.2" | -0.4 % |
| Revs per mile | 797 | 800 | +0.4 % |
| Axle height | 12.66" | 12.61" | -1.3 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 215/55R16. Fit 195/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 70 mph | 69.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 90 mph | 89.7 mph | -0.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,961 on the road, so it over-counts by 39. At a true 70 mph the first turns 930 times a minute, the second 933.