The 1985 Nissan Maxima sits at an interesting point in the model’s evolution, bridging traditional rear-drive Japanese sedan design with the increasingly refined, feature-rich character that made the Maxima a respected upscale alternative in the mid-1980s. For tire selection, the focus is refreshingly straightforward: the 1985 Nissan Maxima uses a 195/60R15 radial on a 15-inch rim. That simplicity still leaves meaningful choice, because this size is available in blackwall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter styles across BFGoodrich and Michelin offerings. The right choice depends less on basic fitment and more on whether the goal is original-looking presentation, custom period flavor, or dependable road use on the wheels currently on the car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1985 Nissan Maxima
The 1985 Nissan Maxima uses one primary tire size: 195/60R15, and it is a radial fitment on a 15-inch rim. Both covered sub-models use that same size, so the main decision is not between different fitments but between tire styles, brands, and intended appearance. Once the wheel setup is confirmed, the choice comes down to whether the car needs a more understated blackwall look, a traditional whitewall treatment, or a more distinctive redline or raised white letter presentation.
A 195/60R15 is a metric radial size in which 195 refers to section width in millimeters, 60 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1985 Nissan Maxima, that means a modern radial fitment rather than an older bias-ply sizing convention. Within this size, the available choices span BFGoodrich and Michelin lines with blackwall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter sidewall treatments. That gives the owner room to match the tire to the car’s intended look and use while staying within the correct primary size.
Tire fitment is consistent across the covered 1985 Nissan Maxima sub-models, with both using the same 195/60R15 radial size on a 15-inch rim. That makes sub-model identification less about changing sizes and more about confirming the car still has the correct wheel setup before choosing among the available tire styles.
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1985 Nissan Maxima GL
The 1985 Nissan Maxima GL uses the same 195/60R15 radial fitment as the other covered Maxima sub-model. Tire selection is therefore centered on presentation and use, such as choosing between blackwall, whitewall, redline, or raised white letter options after confirming the wheels remain the proper 15-inch size.
The 1985 Nissan Maxima SE also uses the 195/60R15 radial size, so there is no separate primary fitment to sort out for this sub-model. The practical decision is which available tire best suits the car’s current character, whether that means a cleaner road-use look or a more period-style sidewall treatment.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1985 Nissan Maxima Tires for Sale
Available 195/60R15 choices include BFGoodrich and Michelin radials with several distinct visual treatments. The product grid lets you compare blackwall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter options, along with tire series and rim-width compatibility within the same core size.
These 1985 Nissan Maxima tire FAQs focus on the 195/60R15 fitment, 15-inch rim compatibility, sidewall and brand choices, and the checks worth making before putting a restored or regularly driven Maxima back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1985 Nissan Maxima?
The 1985 Nissan Maxima uses a 195/60R15 radial tire. That primary size applies to both the GL and SE sub-models covered here, so the basic fitment question is straightforward compared with vehicles that changed sizes across trims or wheel packages.
What still needs attention is the actual wheel setup on the car today. A Maxima that has been modified over the years may no longer have its original 15-inch wheels, so confirming wheel diameter and width before selecting a tire is still worthwhile, even when the factory fitment itself is simple.
What size rim does a 1985 Nissan Maxima use?
The 1985 Nissan Maxima uses a 15-inch rim with its 195/60R15 tire size. That rim diameter is built into the tire size itself, since the final number in 195/60R15 identifies the wheel diameter the tire is designed to mount on.
Diameter is only part of the picture, though. Several available 195/60R15 products are intended for wheel widths in the 5.5- to 7-inch range, so checking the wheel width matters along with confirming that the car still has 15-inch wheels rather than later aftermarket replacements.
Do all 1985 Nissan Maxima sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1985 Nissan Maxima GL and SE sub-models both use the same 195/60R15 radial tire size. There is no separate primary size to sort out between those two versions, which makes the fitment side of the decision relatively easy.
That shared size means the next step is choosing the tire style and brand that best suits the car. Owners can focus on details such as blackwall, wide whitewall, redline, or raised white letter appearance, while still checking that the current wheels and overall setup match the original 15-inch fitment.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 195/60R15 tire for a 1985 Nissan Maxima?
Start with the correct core fitment: 195/60R15 radial on a 15-inch wheel. From there, the important differences are sidewall appearance, brand, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and whether the car is being kept close to a mid-1980s street look or used more as a general road car.
A blackwall Michelin Primacy 3 gives a different visual impression than a BFGoodrich wide whitewall, redline, or Radial T/A raised white letter tire, even though all share the same basic size. Matching the tire to the car’s look, wheel width, and intended use usually matters more here than chasing a different fitment.
What sidewall styles are available for 1985 Nissan Maxima tires?
The 1985 Nissan Maxima’s 195/60R15 fitment is available with several sidewall styles, including blackwall, wide whitewall, redline, and RWL, which is the raised white letter look. Those options create very different visual results even though the underlying size remains the same.
A blackwall generally gives the most restrained appearance, while a wide whitewall leans more traditional and a redline or raised white letter treatment adds stronger period flavor. The right choice depends on how the Maxima is being presented, especially if it has original-style trim, aftermarket wheels, or a custom-oriented look.
What brands offer tires for the 1985 Nissan Maxima?
The available 195/60R15 tires for the 1985 Nissan Maxima include BFGoodrich and Michelin. BFGoodrich appears in several visual treatments and series, while Michelin is represented by the Primacy 3 in a blackwall radial format.
That brand mix gives the owner a useful spread of choices without changing the core fitment. Rather than treating the decision as a simple brand contest, it makes more sense to compare the tire series, sidewall presentation, wheel-width compatibility, and the overall character you want the Maxima to have on the road.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1985 Nissan Maxima?
A period-style approach starts with staying in the correct 195/60R15 radial size and then choosing a sidewall treatment that suits the car’s presentation. For this Maxima, that could mean a restrained blackwall or a more expressive wide whitewall, redline, or raised white letter look depending on the build.
Because appearance preferences vary widely on 1980s cars, the best choice depends on whether the goal is stock-style restraint, dealer-era flair, or a custom look that still respects the car’s period. When exact originality matters, comparing against marque references, old photos, or vehicle-specific documentation is worthwhile.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1985 Nissan Maxima?
On a restored 1985 Nissan Maxima, construction is less about bias-ply versus radial debate and more about selecting the right style within the correct radial fitment. Since 195/60R15 is already a radial size, the appearance change comes from sidewall treatment and tire series rather than from switching constructions.
That means a restored Maxima can look notably different with blackwalls than it does with a wide whitewall, redline, or raised white letter tire, even though all remain within the proper size family. Careful sidewall selection often has more visual impact here than any other tire decision the owner makes.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1985 Nissan Maxima?
Yes. Even though the 1985 Nissan Maxima’s primary fitment is 195/60R15, later changes can alter what actually fits the car safely and cleanly. Aftermarket wheels, suspension changes, lowering, or body repairs can all affect tire clearance and wheel compatibility.
A Maxima that still uses its original-style wheel setup is easier to match to the correct tire. Once wheel width, offset, ride height, or steering geometry has changed, it becomes important to verify the actual wheel dimensions and inspect clearance at the fenders and suspension before mounting a new set.
What should I inspect before driving a 1985 Nissan Maxima on new tires?
Check the wheels first for correct 15-inch diameter, proper width, and any visible damage or corrosion that could affect mounting and sealing. It also makes sense to inspect the suspension, steering components, and alignment condition so the new 195/60R15 tires are not immediately compromised by worn hardware.
A road-ready inspection should also include tire pressure, lug hardware, and a basic clearance check with the wheels turned lock to lock. On a car that has spent long periods parked, old brake issues, weak shocks, and aged rubber bushings can show up quickly once fresh tires are installed and driven.
How should 195/60R15 tires on a collector 1985 Nissan Maxima be maintained?
Collector-car tire care starts with regular pressure checks, visual inspection, and keeping the tires clean and protected from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources. On a low-use 1985 Nissan Maxima, sidewall aging and flat-spotting from storage can become just as important as tread wear.
Driving the car periodically helps, but only if the tires remain structurally sound and properly inflated. Look closely for cracking, bulges, cuts, or persistent air loss, and inspect the spare and all four road tires before a longer outing so the car is not relying on aged rubber simply because tread depth still looks acceptable.
