Tires: Tire size, chevy malibu, series tires

Question
Can a P205/60R15 fit on a car with P215/60R15 tires? It is a 2003 chevy Malibu.
The same question can P215/65R15 tires be used on the same 2003 Chevy malibu? The rims on the 65R15 seem too large to fit on my car.

Answer
Sue,

This is not a good idea.  You are going down in load carrying capacity and that increases the risk of an overloaded tire failure, which sometimes has tragic results.

But you mentioned rims - and that leads me to believe you are trying so put both tires and rims on - and fitment of rims is a complex issue - and the starting point ought to be the soruce of the rims.  If they are off another car, then they may not may not fit depending on what vehicle they came from.

But if they are new - and the listing says they will fit your car, then OK.

But I don't understand why the 65 series tires.  Can't you get 60 series tires in the type of tire you want?  Is the problem the local tire dealer?  It just might be time to switch!