225/65R15 vs 205/75R15
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by +2.2 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 225/65R15 | 205/75R15 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 26.5" | 27.1" | +2.2 % |
| Sidewall | 5.76" | 6.05" | +5.1 % |
| Section width | 225 mm | 205 mm | -8.9 % |
| Circumference | 83.3" | 85.2" | +2.2 % |
| Revs per mile | 761 | 744 | -2.2 % |
| Axle height | 13.26" | 13.55" | +7.5 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 225/65R15. Fit 205/75R15 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.7 mph | +0.7 |
| 50 mph | 51.1 mph | +1.1 |
| 70 mph | 71.6 mph | +1.6 |
| 90 mph | 92.0 mph | +2.0 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 10,223 on the road, so it under-counts by 223. At a true 70 mph the first turns 887 times a minute, the second 868.
What drivers reported
Nobody has filed a complaint naming 225/65R15. 205/75R15 carries 84.