205/50R17 vs 215/55R17
New overall diameter
26.31″
was 25.07″
True speed at an indicated 60
63.0 mph
your speedo reads low
Revolutions per mile
767
was 804, −38
| Measurement | 205/50R17 | 215/55R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 25.07″ | 26.31″ | +1.24″ (+4.9%) |
| Sidewall height | 4.04″ (102.5 mm) | 4.66″ (118.3 mm) | +15.8 mm |
| Tread width | 205 mm | 215 mm | +10 mm |
| Circumference | 78.76″ | 82.66″ | +3.90″ |
| Revs per mile | 804 | 767 | −38 |
| Speedometer error | baseline | +4.9% | reads low |
Diameter overlay
205/50R17 215/55R17
Speedometer check
With 215/55R17 fitted, when the speedometer shows the indicated speed, your actual speed is:
25 mph shown
26.2 mph actual
35 mph shown
36.7 mph actual
45 mph shown
47.2 mph actual
55 mph shown
57.7 mph actual
65 mph shown
68.2 mph actual
75 mph shown
78.7 mph actual
Common questions
- Will 215/55R17 fit instead of 205/50R17?
- At 4.9% this lands between the 3% and 5% marks. Plenty of people run swaps like this, but you will see real speedometer error, and you want to check the wheel well at full lock and full compression before you buy. Your speedometer will read low, so you are going faster than it says. Overall diameter goes from 25.07″ to 26.31″, a change of +4.9%. The rule of thumb most shops use: under 3% is fine, 3 to 5% needs a clearance check, over 5% needs recalibration.
- How far off will my speedometer read on 215/55R17?
- At an indicated 60 mph you are really doing about 63.0 mph, a +4.9% error. The speedometer reads low, so you are going faster than it shows.
- What is the difference in revolutions per mile between 205/50R17 and 215/55R17?
- 205/50R17 turns about 804 times per mile and 215/55R17 turns about 767, a difference of −38. Your speedometer and odometer both count rotations, so this number is what throws them off.