215/75R15 vs 195/80R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/75R15 | 195/80R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 27.7" | 27.3" | -1.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.35" | 6.14" | -3.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 87.0" | 85.7" | -1.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 728 | 739 | +1.5 % |
| Axle height | 13.85" | 13.64" | -5.3 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 215/75R15. Fit 195/80R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 50 mph | 49.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 70 mph | 69.0 mph | -1.0 |
| 90 mph | 88.7 mph | -1.3 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,851 on the road, so it over-counts by 149. At a true 70 mph the first turns 850 times a minute, the second 862.
What drivers reported
215/75R15 carries 41 complaints. Nobody has filed one naming 195/80R15.