2001 Acura Tire Fitment Guide

2001 Acura vehicles use six tire sizes across five models: 205/60R16 for the CL and TL, 215/50R17 for the CL, 195/55R15 for the Integra, 215/45R16 and 245/40R17 for the NSX, and 215/60R16 for the RL. Rim diameters vary by size, spanning 15, 16, and 17 inches. Where product rim-width guidance is available, 205/60R16 suits 5.50- to 7.50-inch rims, 215/50R17 suits 6.0- to 7.5-inch rims, 195/55R15 suits 5.5- to 7.0-inch rims, and 245/40R17 spans from 7.0 up to 9.5 inches depending on the tire.

The practical takeaway is that year and make alone are not enough for a confident match on a 2001 Acura. The CL can use either a 16-inch or 17-inch size depending on the application, while the NSX requires a staggered front-and-rear combination rather than four identical tires. Starting with the exact model and wheel diameter will narrow the search quickly and help avoid chasing a size meant for a different Acura altogether.

On a 2001 Acura, 205/60R16 is a metric radial size. The 205 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 60 is the aspect ratio, meaning the sidewall height is 60 percent of the section width, R identifies radial construction, and 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. In the 2001 Acura range, this size fits the CL and TL and is available on 16-inch rims with a published rim-width range of 5.50 to 7.50 inches for the available product.

That decoding helps separate it from Acura’s other 16-inch sizes, which may share rim diameter but use different widths and sidewall proportions. If your CL or TL still wears original-style wheels, checking the tire sidewall and the wheel diameter stamp will usually settle the question quickly. It is also wise to confirm whether your goal is a conventional blackwall appearance or a specialty look such as a wide whitewall before moving ahead.

No. The 2001 Acura lineup splits across six different sizes, and only one size is shared by more than one model. The 205/60R16 fits both the CL and TL, while the RL uses 215/60R16, the Integra uses 195/55R15, the CL can also use 215/50R17, and the NSX uses a staggered 215/45R16 front with 245/40R17 rear.

That means model identification is the first step, not a minor detail. A sedan, coupe, sport compact, and mid-engine exotic all sat under the Acura banner in 2001, but they do not share interchangeable tire sizing. If you are unsure which variant you own, confirm the model badge, check the current tire sidewalls, and compare front and rear sizes on the NSX before narrowing your search.

For a 2001 Acura, that choice applies specifically to the CL. Both are radial sizes, but they fit different wheel diameters: 205/60R16 mounts on a 16-inch wheel, while 215/50R17 mounts on a 17-inch wheel. The 205/60R16 is also shared with the TL and appears in a wide whitewall offering, while the 215/50R17 is a blackwall performance-style fitment from BFGoodrich with W speed ratings.

The decision is not really about one size being universally better; it is about matching the wheel package already on your CL and the look you want from the car. If the car has factory-style 16-inch wheels, stay with the 205/60R16. If it carries the 17-inch application, the 215/50R17 is the correct direction. Checking the wheel diameter before comparing tread patterns will save the most time.

Sidewall style varies by size on 2001 Acura applications. The 205/60R16 is available with a wide whitewall through American Classic, while the 215/50R17, 195/55R15, and 245/40R17 appear in blackwall form. Acura’s 2001 lineup was firmly modern in design, so blackwall tires align most closely with the original visual character of the CL, Integra, NSX, RL, and TL.

A whitewall option can still be useful if you are building a custom look or want a more distinctive appearance on a CL or TL, but it changes the visual tone away from stock late-1990s and early-2000s Acura styling. If originality matters, compare old photos, brochures, or marque references for your exact model. If appearance is the main priority, choose the sidewall style that best suits the way you want the car to present.

Three brands cover the current 2001 Acura sizes with products attached here: American Classic, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. American Classic appears in 205/60R16, BFGoodrich covers 215/50R17 and 245/40R17 and also offers one 195/55R15 choice, while Michelin appears in 195/55R15. Brand availability depends heavily on the exact Acura model and size rather than applying evenly across the full lineup.

That brand spread means a CL owner on 205/60R16 is shopping a different mix than an Integra owner on 195/55R15 or an NSX owner needing 245/40R17. It helps to decide whether your priorities lean toward appearance, nameplate preference, or a more overtly performance-oriented tread family. Once the size is confirmed, the brand options become much easier to compare on sidewall style, speed rating, and rim-width compatibility.

Rim-width guidance varies by size on 2001 Acura applications. The available 205/60R16 product fits 5.50 to 7.50-inch rims, 215/50R17 fits 6.0 to 7.5-inch rims, 195/55R15 fits 5.5 to 7.0-inch rims, and 245/40R17 ranges from 7.0 to 9.5 inches depending on the tire. Those ranges matter because the same nominal tire size can behave differently if mounted at the narrow or wide end of its approved wheel range.

Matching the wheel width to the tire’s approved range helps preserve the intended tread shape and steering response. If your Acura has aftermarket wheels, verify actual rim width rather than assuming it matches the original package. The NSX especially deserves careful checking because its rear 245/40R17 choices span more than one approved rim-width range depending on the exact tire selected.

The available 2001 Acura tire products shown here are modern radial passenger-car tires, and none carry tube-type markings in their size descriptions. That points to a tubeless setup for the sizes with attached products: 205/60R16, 215/50R17, 195/55R15, and 245/40R17. Acura’s 2001 model range also belongs to the modern era of one-piece tubeless wheel and tire design rather than an inner-tube collector fitment.

Even so, the wheel itself still matters. If a car has replacement wheels, repaired rims, or damage around the bead seat, sealing quality can change even when the tire is meant to run tubeless. Before mounting fresh tires, inspect the wheel condition, confirm valve-stem health, and make sure the shop understands whether the car uses a staggered arrangement like the NSX.

A 2001 Acura should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Because every size here is a radial, long periods of static storage can still encourage temporary flat-spotting, though usually less dramatically than a bias-ply tire. Moisture and temperature swings are just as important as mileage for collector and enthusiast cars that spend time parked.

If the car will sit for months, roll it slightly from time to time or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch, while following safe storage practices. Keep the tires off oily or solvent-contaminated surfaces, and cover the car or the tires if the area has strong light exposure. A few simple storage habits do more to preserve rubber than many owners realize.

On a 2001 Acura, tire age usually matters more than tread wear because many surviving examples are driven seasonally or as hobby cars. A sound rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they reach about 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 gives the tire’s week and year of manufacture.

That matters even more if the car looks lightly used, since rubber hardens and loses resilience over time whether the Acura is driven or not. A low-mile NSX, Integra, TL, RL, or CL can still be riding on old tires that no longer behave as they should. If the date code is approaching that upper age range, replacement deserves consideration even before visible cracking becomes obvious.

Tires on a 2001 Acura should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for cracking, bulges, cuts, irregular tread wear, punctures, and signs of air loss, and check pressure with an accurate gauge when the tires are cold. The NSX also benefits from a quick confirmation that front and rear sizes have not been mixed, since its staggered arrangement depends on keeping the right tire at each end.

Frequent inspection catches problems while they are still inexpensive and easy to correct. A collector car can sit for weeks, lose pressure slowly, or develop age-related sidewall changes that are easy to miss in casual use. Make the spare part of the same routine, especially if it has been untouched for years, because it may be the oldest tire on the car.

A 2001 Acura CL was originally part of a fully modern radial-tire era, so the correct construction type for authentic fitment is radial rather than bias-ply. Within the CL range, 205/60R16 and 215/50R17 are the sizes associated with the model, depending on the wheel application. A specific original-equipment brand can vary by trim, market, and production period, so the safest authenticity baseline is to match the proper size, radial construction, and appropriate contemporary sidewall appearance.

Owners restoring a CL to factory-style presentation should start with the wheel diameter actually fitted to the car and then compare old sales literature, original-window-sticker records, or Acura enthusiast references. That matters because the CL bridges comfort and sport in a way that could affect wheel package. If concours-level originality is the goal, a marque club or model-specific forum is the right place to confirm trim-level details before finalizing a tire choice.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 2001 Acura even though it is a newer collector-era vehicle. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the tire size matches the model, whether the construction type fits the period, and whether the sidewall style looks appropriate for the car’s original character. A blackwall radial generally suits the 2001 Acura look, while an unusual sidewall treatment can shift the car away from stock presentation.

The closer the event leans toward originality, the more important it becomes to keep the exact model and wheel package straight. A CL wearing the wrong diameter, an Integra on a sedan size, or an NSX missing its staggered relationship can stand out immediately. Event-specific judging standards vary, so owners chasing maximum authenticity should check with the hosting club or Acura marque community before the car goes on the field.

For the 2001 Acura size 245/40R17, BFGoodrich offers both g-Force Sport COMP-2 and g-Force Phenom T/A choices. The Sport COMP-2 carries a 91W rating, a 7.0- to 8.0-inch rim-width range, a 1356-pound maximum load at 51 psi, and a 26-pound weight, while the Phenom T/A carries a 95Y rating, an 8.0- to 9.5-inch rim-width range, a 1521-pound maximum load at 50 psi, and a 25.88-pound weight. Both use blackwall radial construction.

That makes the choice partly a matter of wheel width and partly a matter of the operating envelope you want to preserve. A narrower wheel points more naturally toward the Sport COMP-2, while a wider rear wheel aligns more closely with the Phenom T/A’s approved range. On an NSX, confirming the actual rear wheel width before comparing tread family names is the smartest way to narrow the field.

2001 Acura tires can be suitable for highway driving when the correct size is used, the tire is in sound condition, and its speed rating matches the car’s intended use. Among the sizes with visible ratings, 195/55R15 appears in a V-rated option with a 149 mph ceiling, 215/50R17 appears in W-rated form with a 168 mph ceiling, and 245/40R17 appears in both W-rated 168 mph and Y-rated 186-plus mph forms. All of those figures exceed ordinary U.S. highway speeds by a wide margin.

Real-world safety on a 2001 Acura depends at least as much on age, pressure, alignment, and the condition of the car itself as on the speed letter on the sidewall. A healthy TL or CL on fresh tires is a different proposition from an NSX or Integra on old rubber that looks acceptable but has aged out. Tire condition should be judged alongside brakes, suspension, and steering before any extended road use.

Inflation pressure for a 2001 Acura should start with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for the exact model and size, then be checked against the tire’s own rated pressure information where applicable. Available maximum load-and-pressure figures include 205/60R16 at 1356 pounds at 35 psi, 215/50R17 at 1521 pounds at 50 psi on some products, 195/55R15 at 1135 pounds at 44 psi on one product, 245/40R17 at 1356 pounds at 51 psi on one product, and 245/40R17 at 1521 pounds at 50 psi on another product.

Those figures are not universal inflation recommendations for every 2001 Acura application. They identify the pressure associated with each tire’s maximum rated load, not necessarily the ideal day-to-day setting for your CL, Integra, NSX, RL, or TL. Use the placard or owner’s manual as the baseline, then confirm you are not exceeding the tire maker’s limits for the exact product mounted on the car.

Before a longer drive in a 2001 Acura, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven tread wear, and proper cold pressure. Confirm the tire size matches the model, and on an NSX make sure the 215/45R16 front and 245/40R17 rear relationship has been preserved. It is also smart to examine valve stems, check torque on the wheels, and make sure the spare is present and usable.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip routine on a car of this age. A longer outing also deserves a quick look at brakes, fluids, belts, hoses, battery condition, and suspension response, especially if the car has been sitting. Taking ten minutes for a thorough walkaround can prevent a simple tire or maintenance issue from cutting a good drive short.