215/65R15 vs 205/70R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.1 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/65R15 | 205/70R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.0" | 26.3" | +1.1 % |
| Sidewall | 5.50" | 5.65" | +2.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 81.7" | 82.6" | +1.1 % |
| Revs per mile | 776 | 767 | -1.1 % |
| Axle height | 13.00" | 13.15" | +3.8 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 215/65R15. Fit 205/70R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 50 mph | 50.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 70 mph | 70.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 90 mph | 91.0 mph | +1.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,114 on the road, so it under-counts by 114. At a true 70 mph the first turns 905 times a minute, the second 895.