215/60R20 vs 215/65R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/60R20 | 215/65R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.2" | 31.0" | +2.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.08" | 5.50" | +8.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 215 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 94.7" | 97.4" | +2.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 669 | 651 | -2.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.08" | 15.50" | +10.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8" | 6–8" | overlap 6–8" |
Both are approved on a rim 6" to 8" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 215/60R20. Fit 215/65R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 50 mph | 51.4 mph | +1.4 |
| 70 mph | 72.0 mph | +2.0 |
| 90 mph | 92.5 mph | +2.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,281 on the road, so it under-counts by 281. At a true 70 mph the first turns 780 times a minute, the second 759.