215/55R16 vs 195/65R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/55R16 | 195/65R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.3" | 26.0" | +2.6 % |
| Sidewall | 4.66" | 4.99" | +7.2 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 79.5" | 81.6" | +2.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 797 | 776 | -2.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.66" | 12.99" | +8.5 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 215/55R16. Fit 195/65R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.3 mph | +1.3 |
| 70 mph | 71.9 mph | +1.9 |
| 90 mph | 92.4 mph | +2.4 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,264 on the road, so it under-counts by 264. At a true 70 mph the first turns 930 times a minute, the second 906.