Comparison

175/70 R13 vs 195/55 R15

195/55 R15 is a plus-2 alternative to 175/70 R13 — the bigger wheel shows through a thinner sidewall. This alternative fitment swings rolling diameter far enough to feel on the road. Less sidewall flex usually translates to crisper turn-in and a slightly stiffer ride over rough pavement.

The speedometer error is noticeable and may warrant a recalibration if you rely on indicated speed. Diameter delta falls in the cautious 3–5% range, where speedometer recalibration and a careful clearance check are worth doing.

TakeA solid pick for drivers chasing a more aggressive stance without abandoning OEM rolling diameter.

Quick math: 195/55 R15 is 20.3 mm taller than 175/70 R13, shifting the speedometer by +3.53%.

Current Tire

175/70R13

New Tire

195/55R15
175/70 R13
195/55 R15

Ground line · scaled comparison

Slight Difference

Within ±5% — usable, recalibration recommended

Diameter change

+20.3 mm

3.53%

Speedometer at 100

103.5 km/h

+3.53% error

Ground clearance

+10.1 mm

ride height delta

Sidewall change

-15.3 mm

revs/km: 534.5

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Detailed comparison

Metric175/70 R13195/55 R15Difference
Overall diameter575.2 mm595.5 mm+20.3 mm (+3.53%)
Sidewall height122.5 mm107.3 mm-15.3 mm
Circumference1.807 m1.871 m+63.8 mm
Revs / km553.4534.5-18.9
Ground clearancereference+10.1 mm+10.1 mm
Speedometer @ 100 km/h100.0 km/h103.5 km/h+3.53 km/h

Verdict: warning

Between 3% and 5% — noticeable speedometer drift; recalibration may be advisable.

Speedometer impact

At a true 100 km/h, your dashboard will read 103.5 km/h after switching to 195/55 R15 — a +3.53% offset. Use the speedometer error calculator to recheck for other indicated speeds, and the speedometer error guide for the full background.

Ground clearance change

The new tire's half-diameter changes ride height by +10.1 mm. Small differences are absorbed by suspension travel, but anything beyond ±10 mm can affect headlight aim, fender clearance and bump-stop margin. See the plus-sizing guide before committing.

Back to

175/70 R13

Back to

195/55 R15

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Frequently asked questions