215/80R20 vs 205/85R20
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +0.5 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 215/80R20 | 205/85R20 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 33.5" | 33.7" | +0.5 % |
| Sidewall | 6.77" | 6.86" | +1.3 % |
| Section width | 215 mm | 205 mm | -4.7 % |
| Circumference | 105.4" | 105.9" | +0.5 % |
| Revs per mile | 601 | 598 | -0.5 % |
| Axle height | 16.77" | 16.86" | +2.3 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 215/80R20. Fit 205/85R20 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph | +0.2 |
| 50 mph | 50.3 mph | +0.3 |
| 70 mph | 70.4 mph | +0.4 |
| 90 mph | 90.5 mph | +0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,053 on the road, so it under-counts by 53. At a true 70 mph the first turns 701 times a minute, the second 698.