215/50R17 vs 205/55R17
205/55R17 is taller than 215/50R17 by 1.62% — a diameter difference of 0.42″.
What changes between 215/50R17 and 205/55R17
Switching from 215/50R17 to 205/55R17 changes overall diameter by +1.62%, a taller tire by 0.42 inches. This lands inside the ±3% fitment safe zone, so most vehicles will accept the swap without rubbing, speedometer recalibration, or ABS/TPMS complications. Section width moves by -0.39″ (215mm → 205mm), which affects contact patch and fender-well clearance. Sidewall height shifts by +0.21″: a taller sidewall softens ride quality and adds off-road bump protection, with some loss of steering crispness. Revs per mile moves by -13, which translates directly to speedometer error — at an indicated 65 mph, actual speed becomes 66.1 mph. Both sizes share the same 17″ rim, so no wheel change is required — this is a pure tire-only swap.
| Spec | 215/50R17 | 205/55R17 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 25.46″ | 25.88″ |
| Section width | 8.46″ (215 mm) | 8.07″ (205 mm) |
| Sidewall height | 4.23″ (50%) | 4.44″ (55%) |
| Rim diameter | 17″ | 17″ |
| Circumference | 80″ | 81.3″ |
| Revs per mile | 792 | 779 |
Interactive comparison
275/65R18 or "33" for inch aliases215/50R17
- Diameter
- 25.46″ / 646.8mm
- Section Width
- 8.46″
- Sidewall
- 4.23″ / 107.5mm
- Circumference
- 80″
- Revs/Mile
- 792
205/55R17
- Diameter
- 25.88″ / 657.3mm
- Section Width
- 8.07″
- Sidewall
- 4.44″ / 112.75mm
- Circumference
- 81.3″
- Revs/Mile
- 779
Speedometer & Diameter Impact
At an indicated 60 mph, your actual speed is 60.97 mph (98.13 km/h). Your speedometer reads 1.62% low versus actual speed.