205/50R16 vs 195/60R15

Q: Can I replace 205/50R16 with 195/60R15?

195/60R15 is a safe swap for 205/50R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.59%.

195/60R15 is a safe swap for 205/50R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.59%.

205/50R16 24.07" · 195/60R15 24.21" · drawn to scale

Side by side

	205/50R16	195/60R15	Difference
Overall diameter	24.07"	24.21"	+0.14" (+0.59%)
Section width	205 mm	195 mm	-10 mm
Sidewall	4.04"	4.61"	+0.57"
Rim	16"	15"	-1"
Circumference	75.6"	76.1"	+0.4"
Revs per mile	838	833	-5
Ride height	—	—	+0.07"
Speedometer reads 60 mph	60.0	60.4	+0.4 mph

Speedometer and odometer

With 195/60R15 on a car calibrated for 205/50R16, the speedometer reads 59.6 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 0.6%.

Speedo shows	Actual speed
30 mph	30.2 mph
45 mph	45.3 mph
60 mph	60.4 mph
70 mph	70.4 mph
80 mph	80.5 mph

Other sizes close to 205/50R16

Questions

Can I replace 205/50R16 with 195/60R15?

195/60R15 is a safe swap for 205/50R16 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.59%.

What's the difference between 205/50R16 and 195/60R15?

195/60R15 is 0.14" taller and 10 mm narrower; the sidewall is +0.57". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 60.4 mph.

Will 195/60R15 fit on 205/50R16 wheels?

No — 205/50R16 needs a 16" wheel and 195/60R15 a 15" wheel. This is a plus/minus-size swap that changes wheels too.