215/65R17 vs 195/70R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/65R17 | 195/70R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 28.0" | 27.7" | -0.9 % |
| Sidewall | 5.50" | 5.37" | -2.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 88.0" | 87.2" | -0.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 720 | 727 | +0.9 % |
| Axle height | 14.00" | 13.87" | -3.3 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 215/65R17. Fit 195/70R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 50 mph | 49.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 70 mph | 69.4 mph | -0.6 |
| 90 mph | 89.2 mph | -0.8 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,909 on the road, so it over-counts by 91. At a true 70 mph the first turns 840 times a minute, the second 848.
What drivers reported
215/65R17 carries 23 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/70R17.