2000 Nissan maxima tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2000 Nissan Maxima, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/55R16 OEM | R16 | 5x114.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 225/50R17 OEM | R17 | 5x114.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2000 Nissan maxima wheel bolt pattern & specs
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x114.3 |
|---|---|
| Wheel thread / lug size | M12x1.25 |
| Center bore | 66.1 mm |
| Source | bolt-pattern.com |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
Best all-season
Bridgestone
Turanza QuietTrack
all-season touring, UTQG 800, 80,000-mi warranty
Best budget
Goodyear
Assurance MaxLife
Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 820
Best quiet
Bridgestone
Turanza QuietTrack
68 dB cabin noise (EU label); quietest in this size
Best winter
Bridgestone
Blizzak WS90
Dedicated winter (premium compound); ice/snow grip
See the best tires for the Nissan Maxima, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Nissan Maxima →
Compatible alternative sizes for 215/55R16
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
205/70R14 |
-0.05% | alternative | Safe |
235/45R17 |
0.06% | plus 1 | Safe |
185/50R18 |
-0.11% | plus 2 | Safe |
205/45R18 |
-0.19% | plus 2 | Safe |
235/50R16 |
-0.23% | wider | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 215/55R16 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 215/55R16 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 235/45R17; one rim size up, 0.06% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 185/50R18; two rim sizes up, -0.11% 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 2000 nissan maxima SE
The 2000 Nissan Maxima SE ships from the factory on 215/55R16 tires mounted on R16 wheels. 2 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 Maxima 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 2000 Nissan Maxima SE 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 2000 Nissan Maxima SE, 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 2000 nissan maxima
Top issue category: Tires (General)
Most reported: Tires (General) (8) · Sidewall (2)
Reported across: 2000 – 2000 (1 year)
What owners described
Cracking or dry rot appears in 49% of these reports; about 5.3× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 202 reports covering every model year of the Nissan Maxima that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.
| Reported problem | This subject | All tire complaints | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cracking or dry rot | 49% | 9% | 5.3× |
| Sidewall failure | 44% | 15% | 3.0× |
| Blowout or sudden deflation | 15% | 20% | 0.8× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 7% | 8% | 0.8× |
| Bubble or bulge in the tire | 5% | 6% | 0.8× |
| Tread or belt separation | 4% | 13% | 0.3× |
Mileage at failure
130 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 29,750 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 6,500 and 80,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Nissan Maxima. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
I SHOULD BE GETTING 4 NEW TIRES FROM MY AUTO DEALER IN A PROGRAM THAT IS IF I SERVICE MY CAR WITH THEM I GET TIRES WHEN THEY MEET THE REQUIRED WEAR. SOME TIME AGO I HAD TO REPLACE ONE TIRE DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD AND NOW ONLY 3 TIRES MEET THE WEAR REQUIREMENT. NOW I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL TIRE RETAILERS ABOUT THIS AND RECEIVED SEVERAL DIFFERENT REPLIES ABOUT THE WEAR AMOUNT BUT ALL SAID IF THE 4TH TIRE HAS LESS HALF WEAR LEFT IT IS DANGEROUS NOT TO REPLACE THE 4TH TIRE. THE 4TH TIRE HAS BEEN MEASURED AT 6/32 WEAR LEFT AND I?M TOLD THAT IS LESS THAN HALF BUT I/M NOT GETTING THE 4TH TIRE REPLACED. I HAVE HAS A DISCUSSION WITH THEM BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE 4TH TIRE. WHAT IS NHTSA READING ABOUT THIS TIRE REPLACEMENT? IS THIS A DANGEROUS ACTION TO TAKE AND WOULD NHTSA TAKE ANY ACTION WITH THE APPROPRIATE DEALER?
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH KUMHO ECSTA 4X TIRES, SIZE 245/40/19. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRE WALLS CRACKED AND WERE CRACKING ACROSS THE TREAD. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE DID NOT CONSTITUTE A HAZARD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN UPDATED 09/17/2014
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING AND THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V358000 (SUSPENSION). THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA EQUIPPED WITH COOPER ARTIC CLAW-VANDERBILT TIRES, SIZE: 215/55/R16. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
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 2000 Nissan Maxima?
What is the bolt pattern of a 2000 Nissan Maxima?
Can I run a different tire size on my 2000 Nissan Maxima?
Where can I buy tires for my 2000 Nissan Maxima?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2000 Nissan Maxima?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2000 Nissan Maxima?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2000 Nissan Maxima?
For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.
Sources for this page
- Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Nissan Maxima is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2000 Nissan Maxima.
- 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.
Last verified 2026-09-02.