The 1996 Acura NSX sits in the heart of the original NSX era, when Acura’s all-aluminum exotic challenged established sports-car thinking with precision, balance, and everyday drivability. That engineering approach matters at the tire level, because this car uses a staggered radial setup with 215/45R16 in front and 245/40R17 in the rear rather than a one-size arrangement. The main decision is not whether the car takes vintage bias-ply or modern radial construction, but choosing the right performance-oriented radial for each end of the car. On a car this sensitive to chassis balance, correct front-to-rear sizing, wheel confirmation, and overall tire condition all deserve close attention.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1996 Acura NSX
The 1996 Acura NSX uses two primary tire sizes, with one size for the front and another for the rear. Both are radial metric sizes, but they do not share the same rim diameter, so the first step is confirming whether you are replacing the front tires on 16-inch wheels or the rear tires on 17-inch wheels. Once that is settled, the real choice becomes selecting the right radial within the correct position-specific size.
245/40R17 is a metric radial size that denotes a 245-millimeter nominal section width, a 40-series profile, radial construction, and a 17-inch rim. On the 1996 Acura NSX, this is the rear tire size, giving the car the wider rear footprint that belongs with its staggered layout. Available choices in this size come from BFGoodrich in several g-Force series, all with Blackwall sidewalls and varying rim-width ranges, load figures, and product characteristics. The right selection starts with the correct rear wheel diameter, then moves to comparing series details that suit the way the car is driven and presented.
Fitment is consistent across the covered NSX and NSX-T configurations because both use the same staggered front and rear tire arrangement. Checking the exact front or rear position still matters, since the two sizes use different rim diameters and are not interchangeable from one end of the car to the other.
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1996 Acura NSX Base Front
The 1996 Acura NSX Base Front uses the front portion of the staggered radial setup, with a 16-inch fitment distinct from the rear. Tire selection here centers on preserving the intended front sizing and confirming the actual wheel dimensions before replacing a single pair or a full set.
The 1996 Acura NSX Base Rear uses the wider rear radial size on a 17-inch wheel, separate from the front fitment. Choosing the rear tire means staying with the proper rear specification and comparing available performance-oriented radial options within that exact size.
The 1996 Acura NSX T Front uses the same front radial size as the standard NSX, maintaining the model’s staggered tire layout. That keeps the decision focused on correct front-wheel fitment and on matching the car’s present wheel setup if it no longer wears its original wheel arrangement.
The 1996 Acura NSX T Rear shares the same rear radial size used on the standard 1996 NSX. That means the key step is choosing a rear tire in the correct 17-inch specification and comparing the available series details rather than trying to mix front and rear fitments.
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 1996 Acura NSX Tires for Sale
Available product choices center on the 245/40R17 rear size, with BFGoodrich options in multiple g-Force series. These Blackwall radial tires vary in rim-width compatibility, load specification, and product character, giving the rear fitment some meaningful selection room within the correct size.
These 1996 Acura NSX tire FAQs focus on the car’s staggered front and rear sizing, correct wheel diameters, available rear tire choices, and the fitment checks that matter before road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1996 Acura NSX?
The 1996 Acura NSX uses a staggered radial tire setup with 215/45R16 in front and 245/40R17 in the rear. That means the car does not use the same tire size at all four corners, and the front and rear positions must be treated separately when replacing tires.
The practical step is to confirm which end of the car you are servicing before making a selection. A front 16-inch fitment and a rear 17-inch fitment serve different roles in the chassis, so the right choice starts with wheel position, wheel diameter, and whether the car still has its intended wheel and suspension setup.
What size rim does a 1996 Acura NSX use?
A 1996 Acura NSX uses two rim diameters as part of its staggered arrangement: 16-inch wheels at the front and 17-inch wheels at the rear. Those diameters match the primary tire sizes of 215/45R16 in front and 245/40R17 in the rear.
Because the car uses different wheel diameters front to rear, confirming wheel position is just as important as confirming tire size. It is also wise to verify the actual wheels on the car, since aftermarket replacements or changed offsets can affect which tire dimensions and rim-width ranges make sense for replacement.
Do all 1996 Acura NSX sub-models use the same tire size?
The covered 1996 Acura NSX Base and NSX-T configurations share the same overall staggered layout. Both use 215/45R16 at the front and 245/40R17 at the rear, so the fitment pattern remains consistent across those sub-models.
What still matters is identifying whether you are buying for the front or rear of the car, since that is where the actual size difference appears. Even when the sub-model fitment is consistent, wheel changes, suspension modifications, or a mixed set from a prior owner can make a quick verification worthwhile before replacement.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1996 Acura NSX?
Start with the correct position-specific size, since a 1996 Acura NSX uses 215/45R16 in front and 245/40R17 in the rear. Both are radial metric sizes, so the main concerns are matching the correct wheel diameter, keeping the intended staggered layout, and selecting a tire that suits the way the car is driven and maintained.
Once the size is right, compare practical factors such as rim-width compatibility, load specification where stated, sidewall style, and product series. On a car with sharp handling responses like the NSX, staying disciplined about front-to-rear fitment and checking actual wheel dimensions matters more than trying to force a one-size-fits-all approach.
What brands offer tires for the 1996 Acura NSX?
BFGoodrich offers the currently available rear 245/40R17 tire choices for the 1996 Acura NSX. Those options appear across several g-Force series, giving the rear fitment multiple product paths within the correct size rather than only one tire style.
Brand choice is only part of the decision, especially on a staggered sports-car setup. It still helps to compare the exact series, the stated rim-width range, and other product characteristics so the tire matches the rear wheel properly and complements the way the car is driven, stored, and presented.
What tire series are available for the 1996 Acura NSX?
For the 1996 Acura NSX rear size of 245/40R17, the available tire series include BFGoodrich g-Force Comp 2 AS, g-Force Sport Comp 2, and g-Force Phenom T/A. All of them are Blackwall radial tires sized for the rear 17-inch application.
Those series differences matter because they give the buyer something real to compare beyond size alone. The best approach is to stay within the proper rear specification, then look at the series details, rim-width range, and load information where stated so the selected tire matches the wheel and the car’s intended use.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1996 Acura NSX?
A period-style 1996 Acura NSX still starts with the correct staggered radial sizes: 215/45R16 in front and 245/40R17 in the rear. Because this is a modern-era sports car rather than a bias-ply collector application, maintaining the intended low-profile radial format is usually the most faithful starting point for the car’s original visual stance.
Appearance should be balanced with fitment discipline. The safest path is to keep the proper front and rear sizing relationship, confirm the actual wheels on the car, and avoid assuming that a different profile will look right simply because it shares a similar width or wheel diameter.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1996 Acura NSX?
On a 1996 Acura NSX, tire construction is already modern radial, so the appearance question is less about bias-ply versus radial and more about maintaining the car’s intended low-profile metric look. The visual character comes from the staggered front and rear sizing, the short sidewalls, and the correct wheel-to-tire proportion.
A restored NSX can look noticeably different if the sidewall profile, wheel diameter, or front-to-rear relationship changes. Keeping the proper 16-inch front and 17-inch rear format helps preserve the car’s original-era presentation, even when comparing among different available product series within the correct rear size.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1996 Acura NSX?
Yes. A 1996 Acura NSX already uses a staggered setup with different front and rear tire sizes and wheel diameters, so changes such as aftermarket wheels, altered offsets, suspension modifications, or lowering can affect fitment more quickly than on a square-tire layout.
That is why it helps to verify the actual wheel diameter and width on the car before replacement, especially if ownership history is unclear. Clearance at the fender, inner suspension area, and steering range should also be checked, since the correct stock size alone does not guarantee compatibility with a modified setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1996 Acura NSX on new tires?
Before road use, inspect that the 1996 Acura NSX has the correct front and rear tire sizes in the proper positions, then check air pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, and any signs of cuts, bulges, or air loss. Wheel condition and valve stems also deserve attention on a low-profile performance application.
It also makes sense to confirm that the tires clear properly through steering and suspension movement, especially if the car has non-stock wheels or ride height changes. An alignment check and a careful first drive can help reveal any vibration, rubbing, or handling imbalance before the car sees longer or faster use.
How should tires on a collector 1996 Acura NSX be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1996 Acura NSX should be inspected regularly for pressure loss, tread wear, weather cracking, cuts, bulges, and age-related deterioration. Because many NSX examples see limited mileage, condition can matter as much as tread depth, particularly when a car spends long periods parked.
Storage habits also influence tire life. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps protect the rubber, and moving or driving the car periodically can reduce flat spotting. Before any extended drive, recheck pressures and confirm that both the front and rear tires remain matched to their intended positions.
