26.3" tall, 8.1" wide, 5.6" sidewall
A 205/70R15 tire is 26.3 inches (668 mm) tall and 8.1 inches wide. The sidewall is 70% of the width, 5.6 inches, on a 15-inch wheel, and the tire turns about 767 times per mile.
In flotation terms that is about 26.3x8.1R15. People often call it a 26-inch tire.
The size most often compared with it is 215/65R15, which is 0.3" shorter (−1.1%). At an indicated 60 mph you would be doing 59.3 mph on it.
| Current | New | Difference |
|---|
| Shows | Actual speed |
|---|
Same 15" wheel, within 20 mm of width and 10 points of aspect ratio.
| Size | Diameter | Width | Sidewall | vs 205/70R15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/65R15 | 26.0" | 8.5" | 5.5" | −1.1% | compare |
| 215/70R15 | 26.9" | 8.5" | 5.9" | +2.1% | |
| 225/60R15 | 25.6" | 8.9" | 5.3" | −2.5% | |
| 195/80R15 | 27.3" | 7.7" | 6.1" | +3.7% | compare |
| 225/70R15 | 27.4" | 8.9" | 6.2" | +4.2% | |
| 215/60R15 | 25.2" | 8.5" | 5.1" | −4.3% | |
| 215/75R15 | 27.7" | 8.5" | 6.3" | +5.3% | |
| 215/80R15 | 28.5" | 8.5" | 6.8" | +8.5% |
Sizes within 2% of 26.3" on 17" or 14" wheels.
| Size | Diameter | Width | Sidewall | vs 205/70R15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 295/40R17 | 26.3" | 11.6" | 4.6" | −0.0% | |
| 255/45R17 | 26.0" | 10.0" | 4.5" | −1.0% | |
| 305/40R17 | 26.6" | 12.0" | 4.8" | +1.2% | |
| 285/40R17 | 26.0" | 11.2" | 4.5" | −1.2% | |
| 205/60R17 | 26.7" | 8.1" | 4.8" | +1.5% | |
| 215/75R14 | 26.7" | 8.5" | 6.3" | +1.5% |
Actual speed when the speedometer is calibrated for 205/70R15.
| Speedometer shows | on 215/65R15 | on 195/80R15 | on 215/70R15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.7 mph | 31.1 mph | 30.6 mph |
| 45 mph | 44.5 mph | 46.7 mph | 45.9 mph |
| 60 mph | 59.3 mph | 62.2 mph | 61.3 mph |
| 70 mph | 69.2 mph | 72.6 mph | 71.5 mph |
26.3 inches (668 mm). The sidewall is 5.6 inches.
8.1 inches (205 mm) section width, measured sidewall to sidewall.
About 26.3x8.1R15.
215/65R15 is −1.1% in diameter, within the common 3% guideline. It is 0.4" wider.