225/60R14 vs 205/65R14
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -0.6 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/60R14 | 205/65R14 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 24.6" | 24.5" | -0.6 % |
| Sidewall | 5.31" | 5.25" | -1.3 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 77.4" | 76.9" | -0.6 % |
| Revs per mile | 819 | 823 | +0.6 % |
| Axle height | 12.31" | 12.25" | -1.8 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 225/60R14. Fit 205/65R14 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.8 mph | -0.2 |
| 50 mph | 49.7 mph | -0.3 |
| 70 mph | 69.6 mph | -0.4 |
| 90 mph | 89.5 mph | -0.5 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,944 on the road, so it over-counts by 56. At a true 70 mph the first turns 955 times a minute, the second 961.