215/70R15 vs 195/80R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/70R15 | 195/80R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.9" | 27.3" | +1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 5.93" | 6.14" | +3.7 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 84.4" | 85.7" | +1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 751 | 739 | -1.6 % |
| Axle height | 13.43" | 13.64" | +5.5 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 215/70R15. Fit 195/80R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.5 mph | +0.5 |
| 50 mph | 50.8 mph | +0.8 |
| 70 mph | 71.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 90 mph | 91.5 mph | +1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,161 on the road, so it under-counts by 161. At a true 70 mph the first turns 876 times a minute, the second 862.
What drivers reported
215/70R15 carries 129 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/80R15.