Nissan Pulsar NX Tires
Nissan Pulsar NX was a compact sport hatchback sold in the U.S. through the 1983 to 1990 model years, reflecting the era when small Japanese coupes blended economy-car packaging with sharper styling and increasingly varied chassis setups. That matters for tires because Nissan Pulsar NX did not stay with one wheel and tire package throughout production. The sizes span both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters, with a change appearing in the later years and overlapping size choices in part of the run. Before choosing a tire for a Nissan Pulsar NX, the first check should be the actual wheel diameter on the car, then the year and configuration that match it.
Nissan Pulsar NX Tire Size Guide
Nissan Pulsar NX used 4 distinct tire sizes from 1983 through 1990, and the most important change is the move from 13-inch wheels to a 14-inch option in 1987. The rim diameters represented here are 13 and 14 inches, with the new 14-inch fitment first appearing in 1987. All of these are radial-size formats, but they are not all written the same way, so the year and wheel diameter both matter when narrowing down the correct fitment.
155R13 fits 1983 to 1984 Nissan Pulsar NX applications that use the smaller 13-inch wheel package. The 155 indicates section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 is the rim diameter in inches; available products also appear as 155HR13, adding a speed rating while keeping the same basic fitment. Choose this size when the car still carries its early narrow 13-inch setup and you want a period-style radial rather than moving to a later wider package.
175/70R13 fits Nissan Pulsar NX models from 1983 through 1986 that use the wider 13-inch alternative listed during the early and mid-production years. The 175 is the section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R means radial construction, and 13 is the rim diameter in inches. Choose this size when the car is equipped with the broader early 13-inch fitment rather than the narrower 155-section tire or the later 14-inch package.
195/60R14 fits 1987 through 1989 Nissan Pulsar NX applications that use the later 14-inch wheel package. The 195 is the section width in millimeters, 60 is the aspect ratio, R denotes radial construction, and 14 is the rim diameter in inches. Choose this size only when the car is actually fitted with 14-inch wheels, since the same model years also appear with a 13-inch alternative.
185/70R13 fits 1987 through 1990 Nissan Pulsar NX applications that remained on or returned to a 13-inch wheel diameter. The 185 is the section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 13 is the rim diameter in inches. Choose this size when the car has 13-inch wheels and you want the broadest product selection, including blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall radial options.
Nissan Pulsar NX Tires by Year
The year listing helps narrow Nissan Pulsar NX tire choices by production year and shows where the fitment changed over time. Nissan Pulsar NX production changed from 13-inch to 14-inch wheels in 1987 — confirm which rim diameter the specific car carries before selecting a tire. In 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1989, two sizes are listed, reflecting alternate wheel-and-tire packages rather than one universal fitment.
1983 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 155R13
- 175/70R13
1984 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 155R13
- 175/70R13
1985 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 175/70R13
1986 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 175/70R13
1987 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 195/60R14
- 185/70R13
1988 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 195/60R14
- 185/70R13
1989 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 195/60R14
- 185/70R13
1990 Nissan Pulsar NX
- 185/70R13
Best Nissan Pulsar NX Tires for Sale
Available Nissan Pulsar NX tires span 4 brands and 11 products across 155R13, 175/70R13, 195/60R14, and 185/70R13 sizes. Blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall options are represented, so confirm the correct size and rim diameter before selecting.
155R13 Products
These are the available products for 155R13.
175/70R13 Products
These are the available products for 175/70R13.
195/60R14 Products
These are the available products for 195/60R14.
185/70R13 Products
These are the available products for 185/70R13.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on the issues that matter most with Nissan Pulsar NX tires: early-versus-late size changes, the 13-inch and 14-inch wheel split, available sidewall styles, and how to verify the correct fitment for a specific year.
Size Basics & Fitment
Nissan Pulsar NX uses four tire sizes across the 1983 to 1990 production run: 155R13 for 1983-1984, 175/70R13 for 1983-1986, 195/60R14 for 1987-1989, and 185/70R13 for 1987-1990. The first three early and late fitments are split between 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters, with 155R13, 175/70R13, and 185/70R13 all using 13-inch wheels, while 195/60R14 uses a 14-inch wheel.
That means year alone is not always enough to choose a tire for a Nissan Pulsar NX. If the car falls in an overlap year, verify the wheel diameter on the car first, then match the tire size to that wheel and the specific setup the car is carrying.
On a Nissan Pulsar NX, 155R13 is an early euro-metric radial size used in 1983 and 1984. The 155 is the section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Some products appear as 155HR13, which adds a speed-rating letter while keeping the same basic size and 13-inch fitment.
That narrower early size should be matched carefully to the wheel package actually on the car, especially since those same years also show a wider 175/70R13 alternative. Checking the wheel diameter and comparing the current tire markings is the quickest way to tell whether the car uses the narrow or wider early fitment.
A 1987 Nissan Pulsar NX has two listed tire sizes because that model year appears with two different wheel-and-tire packages: 195/60R14 and 185/70R13. The split is a rim-diameter split, not two interchangeable sizes on the same wheel, since one size fits a 14-inch rim and the other fits a 13-inch rim.
That makes the wheel itself the key piece of information. Before choosing a tire for a 1987 Nissan Pulsar NX, read the size on the current tire or measure the wheel diameter directly, because selecting the right 1987 tire starts with knowing whether the car is on 13-inch or 14-inch wheels.
Nissan Pulsar NX uses both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters across its production run. The 13-inch wheel sizes are 155R13, 175/70R13, and 185/70R13, while the 14-inch fitment is 195/60R14. The 14-inch option first appears in 1987, but 13-inch fitments continue in the same later period as well.
That overlap is why wheel diameter should be confirmed before any other fitment decision on a Nissan Pulsar NX. A later car is not automatically a 14-inch car, and a 1987 through 1989 example can fall into either camp depending on the wheel package it carries.
Buying the Right Tire
A 1988 Nissan Pulsar NX can use either 195/60R14 or 185/70R13, so the correct answer depends on which wheel package is on the car. Those sizes are not substitutes for one another because they mount to different rim diameters: 14 inches for 195/60R14 and 13 inches for 185/70R13.
Start by checking the tire sidewall currently on the car and then confirm the wheel diameter itself. If the car has been modified over the years, comparing the present setup with original paperwork, a parts book, or a Nissan marque specialist will help settle which size belongs on that particular Nissan Pulsar NX.
Nissan Pulsar NX tire offerings here include blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. The broadest sidewall variety appears in 185/70R13, while the other listed sizes are represented in blackwall. That gives owners a choice between a more factory-like late-20th-century blackwall appearance and custom-oriented sidewall treatments on some 13-inch applications.
For a restoration-minded Nissan Pulsar NX, blackwall is usually the most era-appropriate visual direction among the styles listed here. Redline and wide whitewall versions may appeal more to owners building a personalized look, so appearance should be weighed alongside correct size and wheel diameter.
The brands represented for Nissan Pulsar NX tires here are Michelin, Dunlop, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Vredestein. Availability varies by size rather than every brand covering every fitment, so some years and wheel packages have only one listed choice while others have several. The most variety appears in 185/70R13, where multiple brands and series are offered.
That means brand choice should come after fitment is settled. Once the correct size for a Nissan Pulsar NX is identified, the remaining decision becomes whether the priority is a more original-looking blackwall radial, a specialty sidewall style, or a particular period-style performance series.
Nissan Pulsar NX tires here appear in several distinct series, including Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, CR6ZZ, Michelin MXV3-A, Silvertown Radial, Sport Classic, Michelin XDX-B, and Sprint Classic. All are radial tires, but they differ in period appearance, speed-rating presentation, sidewall treatment, and the specific sizes they cover. Silvertown Radial also stands out by offering redline and wide whitewall versions in 185/70R13.
For a Nissan Pulsar NX owner, the practical difference is not just brand preference but how closely the tire suits the car's intended role. Some series lean toward a stock-looking blackwall presentation, while others suit a more customized look or a period-performance theme within the correct size.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Nissan Pulsar NX should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long periods of heat exposure. Tires last better when they are kept out of contact with petroleum products and when the car is not left standing for extended periods with one area of the tread carrying the full load.
If a Nissan Pulsar NX will sit for months at a time, slightly increasing movement and reducing flat-spotting matters more than mileage-based wear. Rolling the car periodically, keeping inflation pressures consistent, and avoiding damp or sunlit storage conditions will do more for tire life than cosmetic cleaning products.
Tires on a Nissan Pulsar NX should be inspected regularly even if the car is driven only occasionally. Check for sidewall cracking, tread separation, punctures, uneven wear, aging around the bead area, and inflation loss. Collector and hobby-use cars can age their tires out long before they wear them out.
A practical routine is to inspect a Nissan Pulsar NX before each meaningful drive and again after long storage periods. If the car changes lane feel, develops vibration, or shows one-sided wear, that is a sign to inspect not just the tires but also alignment, suspension condition, and wheel integrity.
Tires on a Nissan Pulsar NX should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Tread depth alone is not a reliable guide on a low-mile collector car, because rubber compounds deteriorate with time and storage history as much as with road use.
The smartest approach is to treat age and condition as the deciding factors on a Nissan Pulsar NX that sees occasional driving. If there is any doubt about sidewall integrity, vibration, or long-term storage damage, have the tires evaluated by a specialist before the car returns to regular road use.
Restoration & Authenticity
Nissan Pulsar NX appears here with four period-appropriate size groupings over its production run: 155R13, 175/70R13, 195/60R14, and 185/70R13. The available series are all radial designs, but more than one size was used in several years, especially at the beginning and again after the 1987 model-year change.
For an exact restoration, original paperwork and marque references are the best way to pin down what belonged on one specific Nissan Pulsar NX when new. The right restoration choice is the combination of correct size, correct rim diameter, and an appearance that matches the car's intended year-correct presentation.
Correct tire fitment can affect both presentation and credibility in a restored Nissan Pulsar NX. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts tend to notice when the wheel diameter, section width, sidewall look, or overall stance does not suit the year and configuration of the car. Even on driver-grade cars, the wrong size can visually date the restoration in the wrong direction.
For owners concerned with value or show judging, the best path is to match the Nissan Pulsar NX to the size and sidewall treatment that fit its specific year and setup. Marque clubs, original brochures, and period photos are useful checkpoints when deciding whether to prioritize factory appearance or a tasteful period-style alternative.
Blackwall is the most restoration-oriented sidewall style among the Nissan Pulsar NX tire options listed here. Redline and wide whitewall versions are available in 185/70R13, but those choices read more as custom visual treatments than standard late-1980s compact sport-coupe presentation. The other listed sizes are represented in blackwall form.
For a stock-looking Nissan Pulsar NX restoration, blackwall is the safest visual direction. Owners building a personalized period look may still prefer redline or wide whitewall, but those choices should be made knowingly as style decisions rather than as assumptions about factory-correct appearance.
Safety & Road Use
The listed Nissan Pulsar NX tires are modern radial products in the correct vintage size categories for the years shown, so they are intended for real road use when properly fitted to the correct wheel diameter and maintained in sound condition. Safe use depends on choosing the right size, correct inflation, proper wheel condition, and the overall mechanical health of the car.
A Nissan Pulsar NX that is driven regularly should have its tires treated as one part of a complete roadworthiness check. Even the correct tire cannot compensate for aged suspension parts, poor alignment, bent wheels, or old valve stems, so road safety begins with the whole package rather than the tire alone.
Before driving a Nissan Pulsar NX, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, and whether the tire size matches the wheel diameter fitted to the car. On overlap years such as 1987 through 1989, make sure a 13-inch tire is not being confused with the 14-inch option or vice versa. Also inspect for age cracking, punctures, and any sign of bead-area damage.
A short pre-drive routine goes a long way on an older Nissan Pulsar NX. If the car has been sitting, add a check for flat spotting and verify that the steering feels normal in the first few miles, because unusual vibration or pull can point to a tire issue even when the tread still looks serviceable.
A Nissan Pulsar NX should be driven at speeds appropriate to the actual tires fitted, their condition, and the mechanical condition of the car rather than by the car's capability alone. Several listed products carry higher-speed radial markings, but age, storage history, inflation, and wheel condition still matter more on a collector-era tire than the printed speed symbol by itself.
For practical use, a Nissan Pulsar NX should be driven conservatively until tire age and condition are known and the car has been fully inspected. Steady road speeds on fresh, correctly fitted tires are one thing; pushing an older compact coupe on questionable rubber is another, even when the size itself is correct.