What happens if I drive with tires different than ones that are recommended?

I drive a 98' Chevy Malibu and I need to change my tires. The recommended sizes are 215/60 R15-225/60 R15. I have an extra set of tires from another one of my cars and they're 205/60 R15, would there be a problem with those? I heard that my car would just shake more, but that's about it, any truth to this?|||In reality, after all the answers, if these are very good tires, you will hardly notice any difference. afte all you are only going from a 215 to a 205.


I build cars for customers all the time and it's a rare day thay someone wants the original size tires on the vehicle. Ususally something tht will barely fit in the wheel wells in the back (inc wheel size also) and who knows what in front. (almost are really wide tires f and back. A little suspension work helps a great deal here


just don't worry about 1 size smaller tire. It would be better if you used a 225 instead of a 205, becuase you would notice the handling difference a lot better.|||I doubt that these would create any problems - the speedo may be a little off, but they're close enough in size as to not appreciably effect the ABS system.|||What you will be changing is reducing the width of the tire from the suggested 215 to 225 mm to 205mm


Your car shouldn't shake any more than usual. You will have less tread on the ground by 10 - 20 mm which is about 3/8" you will feel no difference





1. 205 Width of the tire in millimeters.


2. 55 Aspect ratio - This sidewall's height is roughly 55% of the tire's width.


3. R For radial construction


4. 16 Nominal rim diameter code of the wheel on which the tire fits.


5. 88 Load index is a numerical code associated with the maximum load a tire can carry under certain service conditions.


6. V Speed symbol - This tire can carry a specified load under specified service conditions at speeds up to 149 mph.


7. 88V Service description, a combination of the Load Index and Speed Symbol.|||Tire size is based on the following dimensions:


215/60R15


215 is the width in millimeters of the tread


60 is the ratio of the sidewall to the tread


R is radial


15 is the bead diameter in inches





Since you are talking about going from a 215 to a 205, you will notice a slight increase in the tendency to skid when stopping or turning hard. since you have a smaller tread width at the same ratio, your sidewall will be 4mm shorter. This will cause your speedometer to be off a little bit, showing a faster speed than you are actually traveling. Your odometer will roll up mileage slightly faster, and you will get a little worse gas mileage.|||The ride will be worse and you could wreck your suspension. Hardly seems worth saving a few bucks on tires.|||you should always put the correct tire size on a vehicle because the vehicles handling and suspension are engineered for that size....changing the size will make ur speedometer and odometer inaccurate, and could wear out susension parts and strain the transmission. you should not go to a smaller size especially because you will get less control with a smaller tire....spend the extra money and put the correct size so that u will be safe.|||Your vehicle is fitted as original equipment with tires sized...





P205/65R15 94T





The size you want to use is...





P205/60R15 92T





The load index is lower, meaning you will need to increase tire inflation pressure by 5 psi to compensate for the fact these undersized tires can not carry as much weight as the tires your car was engineered for. Overloaded tires can overheat and fail resulting in a serious accident. This combined with the shorter sidewall means you probably won't like the ride.





These tires are smaller in overall diameter which means your odometer and speedometer will read faster than you are really going, your gearing will be thrown off and gas mileage will suffer.





Because of the smaller diameter and narrower tread width the contact patch of the tire will be quite a bit smaller meaning this tire could have a lot less traction, particularly in safety situations like braking.





The undersized tires will also look silly with huge gaps in the wheel wells.





Otherwise, its a great idea.|||no that s is smaller tire i wouldnt do it 205 is smaller than 215 or 225..... no shake unles the tire s are bad... but a smaller tire will casue you to drag in place that you dont need to be and it will be smaller casuing a it to sway more.... theyare too small to be on your car try a tire store and try and trade up or get used one or new ones you will be safer