195 vs 205 Tires : Can I use 205 tires instead of 195?

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The 195 and 205 tires are used in many compact cars and SUVs. If you have a 195 factory-fitted tire, you may think, can I use 205 tires instead of 195? There are many reasons to use larger tires, and one of the primary reasons is to improve the car and SUV’s appearance.

The 195 and 205 tires come in different aspect ratios and rim sizes. Therefore all the tires are not matched your vehicle. So you have to choose the correct rim and aspect ratio.

In this post, I’ll discuss the 195 vs 205 tires specifications. Can I use 205 tires instead of 195 without changing the rim and much more?

195 vs 205 tires

Difference between 195 and 205 tires.

The main difference between 195 and 205 tires is the width, which is 195mm ( 7.7 inches) and 205 mm (8.1 inches), respectively. These two tires have a 10 mm (0.4inches) width difference. As the tire width changes, its diameter, sidewall, and circumference change slightly. These changes slightly change the car’s fuel consumption, comfort, braking distance, traction, speedometer speed, and actual speed. You can use our Tire size calculator to check the difference.

Parameter195 mm Tire. 205 mm Tire.
AquaplaningLess prone to aquaplaning.High tendency towards aquaplaning.
GripBetter grip in wet and snow conditions.Better grip in dry conditions.
Braking distanceLonger braking distance.Shorter braking distance.
Fuel EconomySlightly better fuel economy.Slightly lower fuel economy.
Compatible rimIdeal size 7.5-inch. But fit 5.5 to 7-inch wide alloys.Fit 6 to 7.5-inch wide alloys.
NoiseLess noise.More noise.
PriceRelatively cheaper.More expensive.

 

Can I use 205 tires instead of 195?

Yes, you can use 205 tires instead of 195 if you have 6.5 Inch width rim (this is the optimum rim size to interchange these two sizes). Also, these two tire sizes can fit rim sizes from 6.0 inches to 7.0 inches wide. You must lower the aspect ratio without changing the rim when increasing the tire size. Ensure that the new tires’ load and speed indexes equal or exceed the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level.

Wider tires have wider contact patches. Therefore 205 has better braking distance, wet handling performance, better grip, traction, and shorter revolutions per mile. However, wider contact patch tires it has slightly higher fuel consumption, slower acceleration, speedometer error (which can correct), and slightly increased wearing. 195 front and rear 205 is an excellent choice for staged tire arrangement. (True stagged arrangement rim size should change)

 

Click the following button to use our free tire size calculator to check tire diameter, width, sidewall, circumference, and revolutions per mile.

 

Can I use 195 tires instead of 205

Yes, you can use 195 tires instead of 205 if you have a 6.5-inch width rim (this is the optimum rim size for interchange 195 to 205). However, we can further fit it to a wide range of rims from 6.0 to 7.0 inches wide. Ensure the new tires meet or exceed your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended load and speed ratings.

Narrower SUVs and car tires have a taller contact patch. Therefore 195 tires have longer braking distance, better dry handling, better fuel consumption, faster acceleration, and lower tire wearing. You can use 195 front, and 205 wider tires rear for better performance. Lower the aspect ratio to match the rim size when using a staged arrangement (actual stagged arrangement rim size should change).

205/55R16 Tire
205/55R16 91H tire size.

 

What are the advantages of 205 tires?

  • Better traction in dry conditions.
  • Better handling.
  • Better appearance.
  • Shorter braking distance
  • Better acceleration.
  • Lower revolutions per mile.

 

What are the advantages of 195 tires?

  • Better traction in dry conditions.
  • Better fuel economy.
  • Less noise.
  • Relatively cheaper.

 

What size rim for 205 tires?

The ideal rim sizes for the 205 tires are 6.5 or 7 inches wide rims, and this is the optimum width range. However, 205 tires can fit 6-inch to 7.5-wider rims. When you put different tire sizes on the same rim, you must ensure your new tire fits correctly. If the rim is too wide, air can escape; If the rim is too narrow, the sidewall tends to distort unnecessarily.

 

What size rim for 195 tires?

Ideal rim sizes for the 195 tires are 6-inch and 6.5-inch wide rims. However, you can fit 195 tires for 5.5 to 7 inches wider rims, but if the rim is too narrow, the sidewall tends to distort unnecessarily. The rim is too wide; the air can easily escape.

 

 

Can I use 205/55R16 instead of 195/55R16?

Yes, You can use 205/55R16 instead of 195/55R16. These two sizes’ diameter difference is 11 mm, which is 2%, and the clearance change is 6 mm. When using wider tires, it has a wider contact patch, improving the tire’s wet driving performance, grip, traction, and more attractive look.

What is the difference between 205/55R16 instead of 195/55R16?

Parameter195/65R16205/65R16Difference
Overall diameter621 mm632 mm+11 mm (+2%)
Section width195 mm205 mm+10 mm (+5%)
Circumference1,951 mm1,985 mm+35 mm (+2%)
Sidewall height107 mm113 mm+5 mm (+5%)
Revs per mile825.04810.682.05%
Radius/Ground Clearance310 mm
316 mm
+6 mm (+1.8%)
Actual Speed60 61.06 Actual speed 1.06 MPH higher than the speedometer

 

Can I use 205/65R15 instead of 195/65R15?

Yes. You can use 205/65R15 instead of 195/65R15. These two tires’ diameters are 648 mm and 635 mm, respectively, and the difference is 13 mm (-2%). The 205 tires are wider and have wider contact patches. So per inch pressure is low. Therefore wider tires have better-wet driving performance, grip, traction, and shorter revolutions per mile.

What is the difference between 205/65R16 instead of 195/65R16?

Parameter195/65R15205/65R15Difference
Overall diameter635 mm648 mm+13 mm (+2%)
Section width195 mm205 mm+10 mm (+5%)
Circumference1,993 mm2,034 mm+41 mm (+2%)
Sidewall height127 mm133 mm+6 mm (+5%)
Revs per mile807.36791.152.05%
Radius/Ground Clearance317mm
324 mm
+7 mm (+2.1%)
Actual Speed6061.23Actual speed 1.23 MPH higher than the speedometer

 

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