Nissan Vans Van Tires
Nissan Vans Van occupied an interesting place in the late-1980s and early-1990s market, offering compact van utility in a period when many buyers wanted maneuverability, passenger space, and everyday practicality in one package. Produced from 1987 through 1991, Nissan Vans Van sits in a more modern fitment era than many collector vehicles, but tire choice still deserves careful attention because two sizes appear across the full production run. That means selection is less about year changes and more about identifying the exact configuration and wheel setup on the van in front of you. Before choosing tires for a Nissan Vans Van, confirm which of the two 14-inch sizes is actually fitted to the vehicle.
Nissan Vans Van Tire Size Guide
Nissan Vans Van uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1987 to 1991 production span, and both sizes share the same 14-inch rim diameter. These are modern metric radial sizes, so the first number is section width in millimeters, the second is aspect ratio, and the final number is wheel diameter in inches. The main task is identifying which of the two sizes belongs on the specific van rather than sorting out a year-to-year wheel change.
195/70R14 is one of the two sizes used on Nissan Vans Van throughout 1987 to 1991. The code means a 195mm section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. Choose this size when the van is already fitted for the narrower 14-inch specification and you want to stay with that original-size format; the available product in this size is a radial blackwall.
205/70R14 is the second size used on Nissan Vans Van throughout 1987 to 1991. The code means a 205mm section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. Choose this size when the van carries the wider 14-inch fitment, and pay attention to sidewall styling because blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter versions are all available.
Nissan Vans Van Tires by Year
The year listing for Nissan Vans Van helps you narrow the vehicle to 1987 through 1991, then match it to one of the two 14-inch tire sizes used across that run. The same two sizes appear in every model year, so the important check is the actual size mounted on the van rather than a production-year wheel change.
1987 Nissan Vans Van
- 195/70R14
- 205/70R14
1988 Nissan Vans Van
- 195/70R14
- 205/70R14
1989 Nissan Vans Van
- 195/70R14
- 205/70R14
1990 Nissan Vans Van
- 195/70R14
- 205/70R14
1991 Nissan Vans Van
- 195/70R14
- 205/70R14
Best Nissan Vans Van Tires for Sale
Available Nissan Vans Van tires include 6 products from 4 brands across 195/70R14 and 205/70R14 sizes. Confirm the correct size on the van and verify the 14-inch rim diameter before selecting.
195/70R14 Products
These are the available products for 195/70R14.
205/70R14 Products
These are the available products for 205/70R14.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below addresses the two-size fitment pattern seen across every Nissan Vans Van model year, explains how to read the metric radial size codes, and covers sidewall style, brand choice, and long-term care for a lightly used collector van.
Size Basics & Fitment
Nissan Vans Van uses two tire sizes across the 1987 through 1991 model years: 195/70R14 and 205/70R14. Both sizes are radial constructions built for 14-inch rims, and both appear throughout the full production span rather than being tied to an early-versus-late year change.
That means year alone does not settle the fitment question on a Nissan Vans Van. The right approach is to read the size already mounted on the van, confirm the wheel is 14 inches, and compare that to the vehicle’s placard, service literature, or restoration records before choosing between the narrower 195-section tire and the wider 205-section tire.
On a Nissan Vans Van, 195/70R14 breaks down into a 195-millimeter section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. It is a modern metric radial format rather than an antique numeric or alphanumeric bias-ply size, so the wheel diameter is stated directly in the code.
That decoding matters because it tells you the tire is relatively narrower than the 205/70R14 option while still fitting the same 14-inch wheel diameter. If your Nissan Vans Van currently wears 195/70R14 tires and the wheels are unchanged, that size is the logical starting point when you want to preserve the van’s existing stance and clearance.
On a Nissan Vans Van, 205/70R14 means a 205-millimeter section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. It uses the same wheel diameter as 195/70R14 but adds width, which is why both sizes can exist in the same model years.
For a buyer, the important point is that a 205/70R14 should not be treated as a generic substitute simply because it fits a 14-inch wheel. On a Nissan Vans Van, wheel width, body clearance, and the van’s existing setup should all be checked before moving from one listed size to the other.
A 1989 Nissan Vans Van has 2 tire sizes listed because Nissan Vans Van carried both 195/70R14 and 205/70R14 during every model year from 1987 through 1991. The split is not a rim-diameter change or a construction change, since both are 14-inch radial sizes.
In practical terms, that usually means the correct choice depends on the specific configuration already on the van rather than the calendar year alone. If you are working with a 1989 Nissan Vans Van, inspect the current tires and wheels first, then verify the size against vehicle records so you do not assume both options are interchangeable on every individual van.
Buying the Right Tire
A 1990 Nissan Vans Van can use either 195/70R14 or 205/70R14, and both sizes fit 14-inch rims. Because the same two sizes appear across the entire 1987 to 1991 production run, the correct answer comes from the individual van’s wheel and tire setup rather than from the model year by itself.
Start by reading the sidewall on the tires currently fitted to your 1990 Nissan Vans Van and confirming the wheel diameter is 14 inches. After that, compare the installed size with factory literature, door-jamb information, or well-established service records so the replacement matches the van’s actual specification instead of relying on a broad year-only lookup.
Nissan Vans Van tires are available in several sidewall styles within the listed sizes, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter. The 195/70R14 offering is blackwall, while 205/70R14 opens up the broader range of appearance choices.
That variety lets a Nissan Vans Van owner lean either toward a cleaner factory-type look or toward a more personalized period style. A blackwall is generally the most understated choice for a compact late-1980s van, while whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and RWL options make the strongest visual difference if the vehicle is being styled for show use.
The available Nissan Vans Van tire brands in these listed sizes are Dunlop, Maxxis, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. Brand choice depends partly on size, since 195/70R14 has a different product selection than 205/70R14.
That means brand selection follows fitment first and preference second. Once you confirm whether your Nissan Vans Van needs 195/70R14 or 205/70R14, you can compare whether you want a straightforward blackwall radial, a classic whitewall look, a redline treatment, or a performance-flavored raised white letter style within the brands offered.
Nissan Vans Van tires are offered in several series, including Sport Classic, Classic Whitewall MA-1, Radial T/A, Silvertown Radial, and Michelin XWX. All of them are radial tires, but they differ in visual presentation and intended character, with some emphasizing classic sidewall styling and others leaning toward a more sporting blackwall or raised-white-letter appearance.
For a Nissan Vans Van owner, series choice is usually about the look you want once the correct size is settled. A whitewall or redline changes the van’s visual character immediately, while blackwall and RWL options keep the focus on a more restrained or performance-inspired presentation that suits many late-classic vehicles.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Nissan Vans Van should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and ozone-producing equipment. Long periods of inactivity are harder on collector tires than many owners expect, even when the tread still looks healthy.
If the Nissan Vans Van will sit for extended stretches, move it occasionally to avoid creating flat spots and keep the tires off contaminated concrete or oily surfaces. Many owners also use tire cradles or place the van on stands for very long storage periods, while leaving the suspension supported appropriately for the vehicle.
Tires on a Nissan Vans Van should be inspected before each drive and given a more thorough check several times a year. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, irregular wear, air loss, and signs that one size may have been substituted incorrectly in the past.
A compact collector van often sees intermittent use, which can hide age-related problems until the next outing. Regular inspection on a Nissan Vans Van also gives you a chance to confirm inflation, compare wear across the axle, and catch clearance or suspension issues before they turn a correct-size tire into a drivability problem.
Tires on a Nissan Vans Van should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, persistent vibration, or structural deterioration appear, even if the tread depth still looks acceptable. Collector vehicles frequently age their tires out long before they wear them out, especially when mileage is low and storage time is high.
That is why a Nissan Vans Van owner should judge tires by condition and age as much as by tread. If the van has older tires of uncertain history, a careful inspection by a tire professional familiar with collector vehicles is a sensible step before continued road use, particularly if the vehicle has spent years parked more than driven.
Restoration & Authenticity
Nissan Vans Van is associated here with two fitted sizes across its production years: 195/70R14 and 205/70R14, both in radial construction on 14-inch rims. Several modern replacement series exist in those sizes, but the exact original assembly for an individual Nissan Vans Van depends on the specific configuration and factory specification for that van.
For a restoration-minded owner, the best path is to confirm the surviving wheel and tire information on the vehicle itself and compare it with period Nissan literature. That helps separate a true original-size restoration choice from a later replacement installed sometime during the van’s working life.
Correct tire fitment can affect how a Nissan Vans Van is judged, especially when the vehicle is being restored to a period-correct presentation. Size, sidewall style, and overall stance all influence whether the van looks appropriately finished for its era, even when both listed sizes are mechanically plausible within the model run.
For an owner concerned with value or show presentation, the goal is consistency rather than simply choosing any 14-inch radial that fits the wheel. Matching the Nissan Vans Van to the right size and the right sidewall treatment for its intended restoration style will usually present better than a visually mismatched or overly modern-looking choice.
A Nissan Vans Van restoration can be finished with blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, or raised white letter tires within the available size range. Blackwall is the most restrained and broadly era-consistent appearance for a compact van of the late 1980s and early 1990s, while the other styles create a more customized period look.
The correct choice depends on whether the Nissan Vans Van is being restored to a factory-like appearance or to a personalized style associated with the era. Owners building a clean original-type van usually gravitate toward blackwalls, while custom, street, or show-oriented presentations may justify the stronger visual statement of whitewalls, redlines, or RWL tires.
Safety & Road Use
The listed Nissan Vans Van tires are modern radial designs in the correct 14-inch fitment family for this model range, so they are far more road-usable than antique collector tires when they are fresh, properly installed, and matched to the van’s correct size. Safety still depends on overall vehicle condition, tire age, inflation, and avoiding mismatched sizes on the same axle.
For real-world driving, a Nissan Vans Van should be treated like any older vehicle: inspect the tires carefully, verify the same size is fitted side to side on each axle, and make sure braking, steering, and suspension are in sound condition. A correct-size modern radial is only one part of making an older van roadworthy.
Before driving a Nissan Vans Van, check tire pressure, visible tire condition, tread wear, and the size markings on all four tires. Since Nissan Vans Van can use either 195/70R14 or 205/70R14, it is especially important to make sure the tires are consistent across each axle and mounted on 14-inch wheels.
A short pre-drive walkaround can prevent most tire-related surprises. On a Nissan Vans Van, also look for age cracking, damage from curb impacts, and signs of rubbing or uneven wear that could point to alignment or suspension issues, because even the correct tire size will not perform properly if the underlying chassis needs attention.
A Nissan Vans Van should be driven at prudent, legal road speeds that match the condition of the tires actually installed, not simply the size code on the sidewall. The available products include modern radials with speed and load ratings, but the van’s age, handling, braking, and overall mechanical condition should still set the real-world pace.
For a collector Nissan Vans Van, the sensible approach is to build speed gradually after confirming inflation, balance, and stability. Even with modern radial replacements, an older van is best driven with a margin of caution, especially if it sees infrequent use or has recently returned to the road after long storage.