1998 Acura Tire Fitment Guide

1998 Acura vehicles use eight different tire sizes across five models. The CL uses 205/55R16, the Integra uses either 195/55R15 or 195/60R14, the NSX uses a staggered 215/45R16 front and 245/40R17 rear setup, the RL uses 215/60R16, and the TL uses either 205/60R15 or 205/65R15. Rim width guidance is available for several of those sizes: 205/55R16 commonly fits 5.5- to 7.5-inch rims, 195/55R15 fits about 5.5- to 7-inch rims, 245/40R17 fits roughly 7- to 9.5-inch rims depending on the tire, and both 205/60R15 and 205/65R15 commonly fit 5.5- to 7.5-inch rims.

That spread means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1998 Acura. The first check should be the exact model, then the wheel diameter already on the car, and then the full size molded into the sidewall. The NSX is the biggest trap for casual ordering because it uses different front and rear sizes, while Integra and TL buyers need to confirm which of two fitments applies to their car before comparing brands or sidewall styles.

On a 1998 Acura, 205/55R16 is a modern metric radial size. The 205 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 55 is the aspect ratio, meaning the sidewall height is 55 percent of the section width, the R identifies radial construction, and 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this Acura range, that size belongs to the CL and mounts on 16-inch wheels, with products offered in blackwall styling from BFGoodrich and Michelin.

Reading the code correctly keeps you from focusing only on the width and overlooking the wheel diameter or sidewall profile. A 205-width tire can appear in more than one overall combination, so the complete code matters. If your 1998 Acura CL wears 16-inch wheels, 205/55R16 points you toward the proper diameter and proportions; from there, the next choice is the type of radial tire and the speed rating that best suits how the car is driven.

No. 1998 Acura models do not share one common tire size across the lineup. Acura’s range that year stretched from the compact Integra to the luxury RL and the exotic NSX, so tire sizes change by model and, in a few cases, by application within the same model. The NSX is especially distinct because it uses two sizes at once, with one for the front axle and another for the rear.

That matters because a tire that looks close in width or profile may still be wrong for your 1998 Acura if the wheel diameter or overall fitment is different. CL, RL, and TL buyers should still confirm the exact size on the car, but Integra and NSX owners need to be especially careful. When a model has more than one fitment, the safest approach is to match the current wheel diameter and compare the sidewall code against the tire placard or factory literature.

1998 Acura tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. Blackwall is the dominant look across 205/55R16, 195/55R15, 195/60R14, and 245/40R17, which suits the late-1990s Acura performance and luxury aesthetic. The TL-oriented 205/60R15 size adds wide whitewall and raised white letter choices, while 205/65R15 is offered in wide whitewall and redline form. Those more decorative sidewalls are visual alternatives rather than a change in basic radial construction.

For a factory-style 1998 Acura appearance, blackwall is usually the most era-appropriate starting point, especially for CL, Integra, NSX, and RL applications. Whitewall, redline, and raised white letter tires can change the personality of a TL considerably and may appeal more to custom or nostalgic builds than to strict original-style presentation. If appearance matters as much as fitment, choose the correct size first and then narrow the field by sidewall treatment so the tire matches the car’s intended look.

Several brands cover 1998 Acura sizes, but the mix changes by application. BFGoodrich appears in 205/55R16, 195/55R15, 245/40R17, 205/60R15, and 205/65R15, while Michelin covers 205/55R16, 195/55R15, 195/60R14, and 205/60R15. American Classic and Coker Classic both appear in 205/60R15, adding more appearance-focused choices for that TL fitment. Across the full year and make, the brand spread is broadest in 205/60R15 and more concentrated in the sport-focused NSX rear and Integra sizes.

That brand mix gives 1998 Acura owners different paths depending on the model and how the car is used. A CL or Integra buyer may be comparing established modern radial choices in blackwall form, while a TL buyer can also weigh sidewall appearance as part of the decision. If you are shopping for an NSX rear tire, your practical comparison is narrower, so it makes sense to focus on the exact size, speed rating, and wheel-width compatibility before worrying about brand variety.

For 1998 Acura applications where both appear, BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 and BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A differ mainly in speed rating, load figure, and wheel-width range. In 205/55R16, the Sport COMP-2 carries a 91W rating and a maximum load of 1,356 pounds at 51 psi, while the Phenom T/A carries a 94W rating and 1,477 pounds at 50 psi; both fit 5.5- to 7.5-inch rims. In 245/40R17, the Sport COMP-2 is 91W with 1,356 pounds at 51 psi and a 7.0- to 8.0-inch rim range, while the Phenom T/A is 95Y with 1,521 pounds at 50 psi and an 8- to 9.5-inch rim range.

Those differences matter most when your 1998 Acura is already on a known wheel width and you want to stay within the tire maker’s approved range. On the NSX rear size especially, the Phenom T/A opens up wider wheel compatibility and a higher speed ceiling, while the Sport COMP-2 stays more narrowly focused by rim width. The right choice starts with the actual wheel on the car and the intended use, not simply the fact that both tires share the same nominal size.

Several 1998 Acura sizes have clear rim-width guidance. The 205/55R16 used on the CL fits 5.5- to 7.5-inch rims, while the Integra’s 195/55R15 fits about 5.5- to 7-inch rims. The NSX rear size, 245/40R17, varies by tire design, with some products fitting 7.0- to 8.0-inch rims and others fitting 8.0- to 9.5-inch rims. Both TL sizes with product detail, 205/60R15 and 205/65R15, commonly fit 5.5- to 7.5-inch rims.

That is why wheel measurement matters just as much as tire size on a 1998 Acura. Two tires can share the same sidewall code but differ in approved wheel-width range depending on construction and series. If your car has aftermarket wheels, do not assume the tire that fits a factory wheel will automatically suit the current one. Measure the wheel or confirm its width before making a final choice, especially on the NSX rear where the acceptable range changes the most.

1998 Acura tires in these fitments are generally modern radials, and several products are explicitly marked TL for tubeless use, including the Michelin 205/55R16, Michelin 195/60R14, and Michelin 205/60R15. Other products in the same year and make do not always spell out tube status in the size marking, so tubeless use can vary by product marking rather than by size alone. None of these Acura fitments point toward a traditional tube-type collector tire category in the way an earlier bias-ply application would.

The practical step is to read the exact sidewall marking on the tire you choose and make sure it matches the wheel you are using. On a 1998 Acura with original late-model wheels in sound condition, tubeless fitment is the normal expectation, but aftermarket wheels or older repaired rims deserve a closer look. If the tire marking and the wheel condition do not clearly support tubeless use, confirm the setup with the wheel manufacturer or a knowledgeable installer before mounting.

A stored 1998 Acura should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber faster. Clean, dry concrete is fine if the floor is not contaminated with petroleum products, and stable indoor temperature helps more than extreme seasonal swings. Radial tires generally resist flat-spotting better than old bias-ply designs, but any collector car that sits too long in one position can still develop temporary ride disturbances or pressure loss.

Moving the car periodically, keeping the tires inflated to an appropriate storage pressure, and avoiding long-term parking on underinflated tires are simple habits that preserve both ride quality and appearance. If the 1998 Acura will be parked for a very long time, some owners use tire cradles or stands to reduce static loading. That does not replace inspection when the car returns to service, but it can help limit stress on the casing and sidewalls during extended storage.

On a 1998 Acura, tire age is usually more important than tread wear because many surviving cars are driven lightly. A good rule is to begin close evaluation once tires reach roughly five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the sidewall tells you the week and year of manufacture, which is the key reference for this kind of age-based judgment.

Mileage alone can be misleading on a collector or weekend-driven 1998 Acura. A tire that still looks full in tread depth may have hardened, cracked, or simply aged out, especially if it spent years in sun or heat. If the car sees infrequent use, set a habit of checking date codes as part of routine maintenance rather than waiting for visible wear. Age, storage history, and condition together give a better picture than odometer reading by itself.

Tires on a 1998 Acura should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for sidewall cracking, bulges, embedded objects, uneven wear, tread separation, and signs of pressure loss. Because these are radial fitments on a now-older vehicle platform, it also helps to watch for wear patterns that suggest alignment or suspension issues rather than tire trouble alone. Valve stems deserve attention too, since aged rubber stems can fail even when the tire itself still appears serviceable.

A quick walk-around catches many problems before they become a roadside issue. On a lightly used 1998 Acura, pressure can drift down between drives without being obvious by eye, and a low tire on a sporty chassis like the Integra or NSX can change handling immediately. Make pressure checks, tread inspection, and a glance at the spare part of the same routine. Frequent inspection matters more with older enthusiast cars because use tends to be intermittent rather than daily.

A 1998 Acura CL would have left the factory on radial tires, as radial construction was fully standard for Acura by the late 1990s. Within this year and make range, the CL uses 205/55R16, which places it firmly in modern metric radial territory rather than in an earlier alphanumeric or numeric sizing system. Acura of this era emphasized contemporary handling, comfort, and refinement, so a proper CL restoration starts with the correct size and radial construction before brand details enter the conversation.

For an authenticity-minded 1998 Acura CL, the best approach is to preserve the original size, wheel diameter, and blackwall appearance that fits the period. Factory-brand confirmation can vary by market and trim, so anyone chasing exact showroom-level accuracy should cross-check with original brochures, surviving OE examples, or Acura marque specialists. That extra step matters more in formal preservation work than in casual driving, but the basic fitment baseline remains the same: the right 205/55R16 radial on a 16-inch wheel.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1998 Acura because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the size, profile, and sidewall appearance suit the period and the model. Late-1990s Acura vehicles generally look most authentic on proper metric radials with restrained sidewalls, especially blackwalls on CL, Integra, NSX, and RL applications. A decorative whitewall, redline, or raised white letter tire can be visually striking, but it may not align with factory-era presentation if originality is the goal.

That does not mean every shown 1998 Acura must follow the same standard. A preservation car, a custom build, and a marque-club judged example can all be evaluated differently. If the event emphasizes originality, keep the exact size and era-appropriate sidewall style at the top of the checklist. If the car is more of a personalized interpretation, appearance choices open up, especially in TL sizes where sidewall variety exists. Event rules and marque-club guidance should settle the final details.

In the 1998 Acura TL’s 205/60R15 size, Michelin Primacy 3 and BFGoodrich Radial T/A differ in appearance, speed rating, and stated load details. The Primacy 3 is a blackwall radial marked 91W, while the Radial T/A uses raised white letters and carries a 90S rating. Their approved wheel-width range is similar at about 5.5 to 7.5 inches, but the BFGoodrich includes a stated maximum load of 1,301 pounds at 35 psi, while the Michelin product here emphasizes the speed-marked touring-style presentation.

That makes the choice less about basic fitment and more about the personality you want from the tire on a 1998 Acura TL. The Michelin keeps a cleaner late-model luxury-sedan look, while the BFGoodrich adds a more overtly enthusiast-oriented sidewall. Since both fit the same general wheel width, visual style and speed category become the real separators. Owners trying to preserve a stock-appearing Acura usually lean one way, while owners pursuing a more expressive period custom look may lean the other.

Yes, 1998 Acura tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their speed rating. The available ratings in these fitments include S, V, W, and Y, with ceilings of 112 mph, 149 mph, 168 mph, and 186+ mph respectively. Since every fitment here is radial, highway behavior is being handled by a construction type already designed for modern road use rather than an early-era bias-ply format.

The more important limit on many 1998 Acura cars is usually condition, not the theoretical speed symbol molded into the sidewall. Age, pressure, alignment, and the health of the suspension and brakes all matter more in normal highway use than whether the car wears one W-rated tire or another. For the NSX, matching the correct staggered sizes is especially important, while for CL, Integra, RL, and TL drivers, regular inspection and proper inflation do more for safe road use than chasing the highest speed letter.

Inflation pressure for a 1998 Acura should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation first, because that is tied to the car’s weight balance and intended ride behavior. Tire-specific load and pressure references do appear on several products: 205/55R16 reaches 1,356 pounds at 51 psi or 1,477 pounds at 50 psi depending on the tire, 245/40R17 reaches 1,356 pounds at 51 psi or 1,521 pounds at 50 psi, 205/60R15 reaches 1,301 pounds at 35 psi or 1,521 pounds at 32 psi depending on the tire, and 205/65R15 reaches 1,400 pounds at 35 psi.

Those figures are maximum load-and-pressure ratings for the tire, not automatic running pressures for every 1998 Acura application. A CL, TL, and NSX do not use pressure the same way even when their tires may look similar in size format. Use the door-jamb placard or owner’s manual as the baseline, then make sure the tire itself is appropriate for that service. If the car has non-original wheels or a specialized fitment, confirm the pressure strategy with a knowledgeable installer rather than transferring numbers from another size.

Before a longer trip in a 1998 Acura, inspect all four tires for cracks, cuts, punctures, bulges, tread separation, and uneven wear. Check cold inflation pressure, confirm the spare is usable, and look closely at valve stems for age or splitting. On an NSX, verify that the front and rear tires are the correct staggered sizes and are mounted in the proper positions. If the car has been parked for a while, watch for vibration during the first few miles that may point to flat-spotting or an underinflated tire.

Tire inspection should be part of a broader road-trip check on a 1998 Acura, not a standalone task. Brake condition, fluid leaks, alignment feel, and wheel-bearing or suspension noises become more important as these cars age. For a lightly used collector example, a short local drive before a major outing can reveal issues while you are still close to home. Tires are the contact patch, but they work best when the rest of the chassis is equally ready for the distance ahead.