225/55R16 vs 205/60R16
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/55R16 | 205/60R16 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.7" | 25.7" | -0.2 % |
| Sidewall | 4.87" | 4.84" | -0.6 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 80.9" | 80.7" | -0.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 783 | 785 | +0.2 % |
| Axle height | 12.87" | 12.84" | -0.8 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6–8.5" | 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 225/55R16. Fit 205/60R16 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 50 mph | 49.9 mph | -0.1 |
| 70 mph | 69.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 90 mph | 89.8 mph | -0.2 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,977 on the road, so it over-counts by 23. At a true 70 mph the first turns 914 times a minute, the second 916.