2002 Nissan xterra tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2002 Nissan Xterra, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 265/70R15 OEM | R15 | 6x139.7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 265/70R16 OEM | R16 | 6x139.7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 265/70R15 OEM | 7x15 | 6x139.7 | 40mm | 110 | S |
| 265/70R16 | 7x16 | 6x139.7 | 40mm | 111 | S |
| 265/65R17 OEM | R17 | 6x139.7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2002 Nissan xterra wheel bolt pattern & specs
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 6x139.7 |
|---|---|
| Wheel thread / lug size | M12x1.25 |
| Center bore | 100.0 mm |
| Source | adaptitusa-reference |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
See the best tires for the Nissan Xterra, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Nissan Xterra →
Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every Nissan Xterra factory size →
Compatible alternative sizes for 265/70R15
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
285/65R15 |
-0.07% | wider | Safe |
265/75R14 |
0.15% | alternative | Safe |
265/65R16 |
-0.15% | plus 1 | Safe |
245/65R17 |
-0.23% | plus 2 | Safe |
265/60R17 |
-0.29% | plus 2 | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 265/70R15 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 265/70R15 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 265/65R16; one rim size up, -0.15% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 245/65R17; two rim sizes up, -0.23% 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 2002 nissan xterra
The 2002 Nissan Xterra ships from the factory on 265/70R15 tires mounted on R15 wheels. 3 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 Xterra 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 2002 Nissan Xterra 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 2002 Nissan Xterra, 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 2002 nissan xterra
Top issue category: Tires (General)
Most reported: Tires (General) (6) · Spare Tire (1)
Reported across: 2002 – 2002 (1 year)
What owners described
Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 19% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 31 reports covering every model year of the Nissan Xterra 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowout or sudden deflation | 19% | 20% | 1.0× |
| Sidewall failure | 13% | 15% | 0.9× |
| Cracking or dry rot | 13% | 9% | 1.4× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 10% | 8% | 1.2× |
| Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault | 10% | 2% | 4.0× |
| Tread or belt separation | 6% | 13% | 0.5× |
Mileage at failure
16 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 20,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 5,000 and 131,050 miles.
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Nissan Xterra. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Xterra equipped with Interco Tires, Tire line: LTB-02 SST LTB, Tire Size: 31/11.5/16LT. The contact stated that the while her son was driving approximately 65 mph, a loud noise suddenly occurred. After stopping and inspecting the vehicle, the driver discovered that the front driver's side tire had experienced tread separation. Approximately one month later the same failure occurred to the front passenger's side tire. The cause of the failures was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Xterra equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Discoverer A/T3, Tire Size: P265/70/R16, DOT Number: Not Provided. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side tire had exposed wires. In addition, the tire was bulging on the sidewall. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T002000 (Tires) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire was a replacement tire. The tire failure mileage was 19,700 and the vehicle failure mileage was 98,454.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND LEFT. ALSO WHEN BRAKING IT HAS A PULLING EFFECT. IN ADDITION, HAD PROBLEM WITH TIRES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CD PLAYER MAKES NOISE AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. THE A/C SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MADE NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN. CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
THESE TIRES HYDROPLANED VIOLENTLY, EVEN AT LOW SPEED. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE XTERRA OWNER'S CLUB REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE. ONE MEMBER REPORTED TO THE OWNER'S CLUB WEBSITE THAT THEY CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. THE XTERRA OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE ADDRESS IS: HTTP.WWW.XTERRAOWNERSCLUB.COM.
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 2002 Nissan Xterra?
What is the bolt pattern of a 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Can I run a different tire size on my 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Where can I buy tires for my 2002 Nissan Xterra?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2002 Nissan Xterra?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2002 Nissan Xterra?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2002 Nissan Xterra?
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 Xterra is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2002 Nissan Xterra.
- 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 2026-10-07.