Can I Use 205 Tires Instead Of 185 Tires? | 205 vs 185 Tires

You must consider many factors like size and tread pattern when changing the tires. Slightly size differences make a noticeable difference in performance and efficiency. The 205 and 185 are common tires for many passenger cars and light trucks, and this is the perfect opportunity to know 205 vs 185 tires in complete detail.

Tires are one of the most crucial parts of the automobile. Therefore you have to use the correct size. Some of the owners prefer to use larger tires without changing the rim. Tires directly affect the vehicle’s performance, safety, and comfort.

This article will cover the difference between 205 tires and 185 tires. Can you replace 205 tires with 185 tires, and can 205 tires replace 185?

What are 205 tire specifications?

The 205 tires are 205mm wider and can be used with rims ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 inches wider, but the optimum size range is 6.5 to 7 inches wider rims.

What are 185 tire specifications?

The 185 tires are 185mm wider and can fit on 5 inches to 6.5 wider rims, but the optimum rim width is 5.5 inches to 6 inches.

Can I Use 205 Tires Instead Of 185?

Yes. You can use the 205 tires instead of 185 tires without changing the rim if you have 6-inch or 6.5-inch wider rims. However, when replacing 205 tires with 185, you must change the new tire aspect ratio to maintain an overall diameter change below 3%.

Before replacing new tires, there are a few things you should consider. Your new tires’ speed rating and load capacity index, should have the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended range or higher level.

Can I Use 185 Tires Instead Of 205?

Yes. You can replace 185 tires instead of 205 tires without changing the rim if you have 6-inch or 6.5-inch wider rims. When interchanging the different size tires, you must use a slightly different aspect ratio to maintain the overall diameter change below 3%.

When replacing new tires, you have to consider speed rating and load index. New tires should have speed ratings and load capacity index similar to or above the range recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Difference Between 205 Tires and 185 Tires.

The main difference between 205 and 185 tires is the width. Tires width is mentioned in millimeters, the 205 tire size is 205mm (8.07 inches) in width, and the 185 tire width is 185mm (7.28 inches). We can find different aspect ratios, rim diameter tires, and tires’ overall diameters on the market, and these are the sizes different in these two.

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

Wider 205 tires provide better grip in dry, shorter braking distances, but they are highly prone to aquaplaning, make more noise, and are a bit more expensive than slimmer tires.

On the other hand, 185 narrow tires provide better grip in wet and snow driving conditions, better fuel economy, and less prone to aquaplaning, are cheaper, and make less noise than 205 tires. Cons of narrow 185 tires have shorter contact patches and longer braking distances.

Difference between 185 and 205 tires.

We can summarize the performance difference in the following table.

FAQ.

185/65R15 Vs 205/65R15.

No. You cannot use 185/65R15 tires with 205/65R15 or vice versa. The main difference between 185/65r15 vs 205/65r15 is the overall diameter. The 185 tire’s overall diameter is 622 mm, and the 205 overall diameter is 648 mm. We can summarize the

185/65R15 Vs 205/55R16.

Yes. You can replace 185/65R15 tires with 205/55R16 or vice versa. When changing the tire aspect ratio, it maintains the overall diameter difference below 3%. That is a critical aspect you have to consider interchanging two different tire sizes.

Can I replace 205/60R15 with 185/65R15 tires?

Yes. You can replace 205/60R15 with 185/65R15 tires. The overall diameter difference between these two tires is 5.5mm/0.2 inches, which is less than 1%. As a result, you can safely replace these two tires without changing the rim.

Final Word.

You can fit 205 tires instead of 185 if you have 6-inch or 6.5-inch wider rims. When interchanging these two sizes, always change the aspect ratio appropriately to maintain the tire’s overall diameter difference at an appropriate level (less than 3%). For that, you can use our free tire size calculator.