215/75R14 vs 195/85R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +1.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/75R14 | 195/85R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.7" | 27.1" | +1.3 % |
| Sidewall | 6.35" | 6.53" | +2.8 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 83.9" | 85.0" | +1.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 755 | 746 | -1.3 % |
| Axle height | 13.35" | 13.53" | +4.5 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 215/75R14. Fit 195/85R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 50 mph | 50.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 70 mph | 70.9 mph | +0.9 |
| 90 mph | 91.2 mph | +1.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,133 on the road, so it under-counts by 133. At a true 70 mph the first turns 881 times a minute, the second 870.
What drivers reported
215/75R14 carries 11 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/85R14.