Tires: Size compatibility, 2002 nissan altima, nissan altima

Question
Barry,
I have a 2002 Nissan Altima.  The standard tire size is
205/65/16.   Someone gave me some tires that are size
215/55/16.   Would these be usable with the stock rims?

Thanks, Bob

Answer
Bob,

This is a bad idea for four reasons:

1)  The load carrying capacity of the tires is lower and that increases the risk of a load related tire failure.

2)  The diameter is 5% smaller, which means your speedometer is going to read high.

3)  The smaller diameter is going to hurt the longevity of the engine as it will be running at a higher speed.

4)  The smaller diameter is also going to hurt your fuel economy