1989 Nissan 300ZX tire size, fitment, and prices

Approved fitments

Tire size	Rim size	PCD (bolt pattern)	Offset	Load index	Speed rating
225/50R16 OEM	R16	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
285/75R16 OEM	R16	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
265/70R17 OEM	R17	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
285/70R17 OEM	R17	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
275/70R18 OEM	R18	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
275/60R20 OEM	R20	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

Bridgestone

Tiger Paw Touring A/S

Lowest cost per mile in this size — UTQG 700

Compatible alternative sizes for 225/50R16

Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.

Alternative size	%Δ OD	Category	Verdict
`205/55R16`	0.08%	winter narrower	Safe
`195/45R18`	0.21%	plus 2	Safe
`215/40R18`	-0.35%	plus 2	Safe
`245/35R18`	-0.43%	plus 2	Safe
`195/70R14`	-0.44%	alternative	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 225/50R16 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.

Check a different size against this vehicle

Type any tire size below — we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 225/50R16 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 225/45R17 — one rim size up, 0.46% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 195/45R18 — two rim sizes up, 0.21% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.

Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.

How to choose tires for the 1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo

The 1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo ships from the factory on 225/50R16 tires mounted on R16 wheels. 6 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.

Tire choice on the Nissan 300ZX comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.

For 1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter — narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.

Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.

NHTSA-reported issues for 1989 Nissan 300ZX

2

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Reported across: 1986 – 1992 (2 years)

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA — they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What size tires fit a 1989 Nissan 300ZX?

The OEM tire size for the 1989 Nissan 300ZX is 225/50R16 mounted on R16 wheels.. Trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment — confirm against your specific vehicle's driver-door placard before purchase.

Can I run a different tire size on my 1989 Nissan 300ZX?

Plus-sizing (larger rim, lower aspect) is possible within ±3% of the OEM overall diameter per the ETRTO safe-fit standard. The Compatible alternative sizes table on this page lists every safe option for the OEM size. Always confirm with the manufacturer or a qualified tire shop before deviating from the placard.

Where can I buy tires for my 1989 Nissan 300ZX?

Online tire retailers in our affiliate network carry every size documented for this vehicle. Use the Shop online buttons above to compare prices across them — variance of $20–$40 per tire is common between merchants. The <a href="/tools/tire-install-cost-calculator/">install cost calculator</a> estimates the out-the-door including mount, balance, TPMS, and disposal by state.

What is the recommended tire pressure for the 1989 Nissan 300ZX?

The cold-inflation pressure is printed on the driver-door placard of your specific vehicle and varies by trim, tire size, and loaded vs unloaded condition. Typical OEM front and rear pressures fall between 30 and 36 psi for passenger trims and 32–40 psi for SUV/truck variants, but the placard is the authoritative source.

Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 1989 Nissan 300ZX?

Yes — the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

How often should I rotate the tires on my 1989 Nissan 300ZX?

Every 5,000–7,500 miles is the typical OEM recommendation for passenger vehicles. AWD vehicles and high-torque trucks benefit from the shorter interval. Documented rotation history is also a tire-warranty prerequisite — most manufacturer treadwear claims require rotation receipts at the warranty inspection.

Sources for this page

Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard — door-jamb placard on the Nissan 300ZX is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar — recall lookup for the 1989 Nissan 300ZX.
ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3 — overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook — load-index to maximum-load reference.

1989 Nissan 300ZX tire sizes & fitment