205/45R16 vs 195/55R15
195/55R15 is a safe swap for 205/45R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.78%.
Speedometer and odometer
With 195/55R15 on a car calibrated for 205/45R16, the speedometer reads 59.5 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 0.8%.
| Speedo shows | Actual speed |
|---|---|
| 30 mph | 30.2 mph |
| 45 mph | 45.4 mph |
| 60 mph | 60.5 mph |
| 70 mph | 70.5 mph |
| 80 mph | 80.6 mph |
Other sizes close to 205/45R16
Questions
Can I replace 205/45R16 with 195/55R15?
195/55R15 is a safe swap for 205/45R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.78%.
What's the difference between 205/45R16 and 195/55R15?
195/55R15 is 0.18" taller and 10 mm narrower; the sidewall is +0.59". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 60.5 mph.
Will 195/55R15 fit on 205/45R16 wheels?
No — 205/45R16 needs a 16" wheel and 195/55R15 a 15" wheel. This is a plus/minus-size swap that changes wheels too.