215/60R16 vs 195/70R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/60R16 | 195/70R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.2" | 26.7" | +2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 5.08" | 5.37" | +5.8 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 82.2" | 84.0" | +2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 771 | 754 | -2.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.08" | 13.37" | +7.5 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 215/60R16. Fit 195/70R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,226 on the road, so it under-counts by 226. At a true 70 mph the first turns 900 times a minute, the second 880.
What drivers reported
215/60R16 carries 284 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/70R16.