215/70R20 vs 205/75R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.8 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/70R20 | 205/75R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.9" | 32.1" | +0.8 % |
| Sidewall | 5.93" | 6.05" | +2.2 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 100.1" | 100.9" | +0.8 % |
| Revs per mile | 633 | 628 | -0.8 % |
| Axle height | 15.93" | 16.05" | +3.3 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 215/70R20. Fit 205/75R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 70 mph | 70.6 mph | +0.6 |
| 90 mph | 90.7 mph | +0.7 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,080 on the road, so it under-counts by 80. At a true 70 mph the first turns 739 times a minute, the second 733.