215/60R17 vs 205/60R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/60R17 | 205/60R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.2" | 26.7" | -1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 5.08" | 4.84" | -4.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 85.3" | 83.8" | -1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 743 | 756 | +1.7 % |
| Axle height | 13.58" | 13.34" | -6.0 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 215/60R17. Fit 205/60R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,826 on the road, so it over-counts by 174. At a true 70 mph the first turns 866 times a minute, the second 882.
What drivers reported
215/60R17 carries 22 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 205/60R17.