215/80R17 vs 195/85R17
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 | 215/80R17 | 195/85R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 30.5" | 30.1" | -1.6 % |
| Sidewall | 6.77" | 6.53" | -3.6 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 195 mm | -9.3 % |
| Circumference | 96.0" | 94.4" | -1.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 660 | 671 | +1.6 % |
| Axle height | 15.27" | 15.03" | -6.3 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 215/80R17. Fit 195/85R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.2 mph | -0.8 |
| 70 mph | 68.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 90 mph | 88.5 mph | -1.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,839 on the road, so it over-counts by 161. At a true 70 mph the first turns 770 times a minute, the second 783.