2004 Acura Tire Fitment Guide

2004 Acura vehicles use six different tire sizes depending on model: the NSX uses 215/40R17 front and 255/40R17 rear, the RL uses 225/55R16, the RSX uses 205/55R16, the TL uses 235/45R17, and the TSX uses 215/50R17. All of them are radial sizes, but they do not share one common fitment across the full Acura lineup. Rim diameters split between 16-inch and 17-inch applications, and the wheel-width ranges vary by size where product dimensions are available.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident tire choice on a 2004 Acura. You need to identify the exact model first, then verify the wheel diameter already on the car, and for an NSX, confirm whether you are selecting the front or rear tire. Once that is settled, it becomes much easier to compare brand, speed rating, load rating, and overall tire character within the correct size.

On a 2004 Acura, 215/40R17 is a modern metric radial size. The 215 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 40 is the aspect ratio, meaning the sidewall height is 40 percent of the section width, R identifies radial construction, and 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. For 2004 Acura fitment, this size is used on the NSX as part of its staggered setup rather than across the full model range.

That code matters because it tells you both the tire’s basic proportions and the wheel diameter it must mount on. A 215/40R17 cannot substitute for a 16-inch Acura fitment, and it also should not be confused with the NSX’s wider 255/40R17 rear size. On a car as specialized as the NSX, keeping the correct front size is part of preserving the handling balance Acura engineered into the chassis.

No, 2004 Acura models do not use the same tire size. The RL, RSX, TL, and TSX each use their own single size, while the NSX uses two different sizes because it has a staggered front-and-rear arrangement. The full spread runs from 205/55R16 on the RSX to 255/40R17 on the rear of the NSX, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer for the brand in this model year.

That variation reflects how different the 2004 Acura lineup was in mission and chassis design. A luxury sedan, a sport coupe, a midsize sport sedan, and a mid-engine sports car naturally ask for different tire proportions. If you are comparing tires across several 2004 Acura models in your garage or shop, treat each one as its own fitment project instead of assuming that a tire from one model will carry over to another.

2004 Acura tire sizes in this range are available in blackwall form. That applies across the supported NSX, RL, RSX, TL, and TSX sizes, including 255/40R17, 225/55R16, 205/55R16, 235/45R17, and 215/50R17. The look is consistent with the clean, modern factory presentation Acura used in the early 2000s, especially on performance-oriented and upscale sport sedan models.

For a buyer, that keeps the choice centered on fitment, brand, and tire character rather than decorative sidewall treatment. If your goal is a stock-appearing 2004 Acura, blackwall styling is the natural visual match for the era. It also simplifies comparison when you are narrowing down between a summer-oriented design and an all-season-oriented design within the same size.

2004 Acura fitments are covered by BFGoodrich, Nitto, Vredestein, and Michelin, depending on size. The NSX rear size 255/40R17 is available from BFGoodrich, Nitto, and Vredestein, while 205/55R16 for the RSX is available from BFGoodrich and Michelin. The RL’s 225/55R16, the TL’s 235/45R17, and the TSX’s 215/50R17 stay mostly within BFGoodrich, with Nitto also present in 235/45R17.

Brand choice matters most after you have confirmed the correct size for your exact 2004 Acura model. Once fitment is settled, compare the tire’s intended character, speed rating, and load capacity rather than picking by name alone. That is especially useful for the NSX and RSX sizes, where more than one brand is available and the mix includes different speed-rating levels within the same basic dimensions.

In the 2004 Acura NSX rear size 255/40R17, the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp 2 carries a 94W rating, a 1,477-pound maximum load at 51 psi, fits 8.5- to 10.0-inch rims, and weighs 27 pounds. The Nitto NT555 G2 in the same size carries a 98W XL rating, a 1,653-pound maximum load at 50 psi, fits roughly 8.5- to 10.0-inch rims with a 9.0-inch measuring width, and weighs 26.9 pounds.

Those differences do not change the basic fitment, but they do affect how closely you match a particular spec preference. An NSX owner comparing the two should look at the load rating, the XL marking on the Nitto, and the exact wheel width on the car before making a final choice. When two tires share the same size, details like that often matter more than small differences in overall weight.

Rim width depends on the exact 2004 Acura tire size. The 255/40R17 works on 8.5- to 10.0-inch rims, 225/55R16 on 6.0- to 8.0-inch rims, 205/55R16 on 5.5- to 7.5-inch rims, 235/45R17 on 7.5- to 9.0-inch rims, and 215/50R17 on 6.0- to 7.5-inch rims. Those ranges are wide enough to cover several factory and aftermarket wheel widths, but they are not interchangeable from one size to another.

That is why wheel verification matters before ordering tires for a 2004 Acura that may have seen wheel changes over the years. The correct tire size still needs a wheel that falls within the approved width range for that tire. If the car has aftermarket wheels or a previous owner changed the setup, measure the wheel or confirm the stamping before choosing a tire by size alone.

The supported 2004 Acura sizes are modern radial fitments, and one 205/55R16 Michelin application is explicitly marked TL for tubeless use. The rest should be treated as modern radial tires whose exact tube status should be confirmed from the sidewall marking of the specific tire you choose. Nothing in this size group points toward traditional tube-type collector fitments such as older bias-ply or multi-piece rim applications.

For most buyers, that means checking the actual tire marking and the wheel type before installation rather than assuming every product within a size is identical. If your 2004 Acura still uses its original one-piece production wheels, tubeless fitment is the norm. A custom wheel, repaired wheel, or unusual wheel condition can still change the setup, so match the tire and wheel as a system.

A 2004 Acura should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid prolonged contact with standing moisture, and move the car periodically so the same tread section does not carry the load for months at a time. Clean tires with mild soap and water rather than solvent-based dressings.

Those habits are especially important for lower-mileage NSX, RSX, TL, TSX, and RL examples that spend more time parked than driven. Even modern radials can develop age-related cracking or temporary flat spotting when neglected in storage. If the car will sit for a very long period, many owners use tire cradles or support the vehicle in a way that reduces static stress while still keeping suspension components appropriately loaded.

On a 2004 Acura, tire age usually matters more than mileage, especially for enthusiast cars that are driven occasionally. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years from the DOT date code as the point where replacement deserves serious attention regardless of remaining tread. Heat, sunlight, storage conditions, and inflation history all affect that timeline.

That guidance is useful because many 2004 Acura vehicles, especially NSXs and cleaner RSX or TL examples, can wear very little tread while still carrying old rubber. Tread depth alone does not make an older tire roadworthy. If the tires are aging, hardening, or showing fine sidewall cracking, replacement becomes a maintenance decision tied to time and condition rather than how many miles the car covered last season.

Tires on a 2004 Acura deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more careful inspection before any extended outing. Check inflation pressure, visible cuts, bulges, uneven wear, embedded objects, and sidewall cracking, and pay attention to whether the car pulls, vibrates, or feels different than usual once moving. On an NSX with staggered tires, inspect both front and rear sizes independently because each axle does a different job.

That routine becomes more important as the car gets older, even if the tires are not especially old. A well-kept 2004 Acura can still have suspension wear, alignment drift, or wheel damage that shows up first at the tire. Catching those signs early protects the tires you have and helps you avoid mistaking a chassis issue for a simple tire problem.

Yes, 2004 Acura tires in these sizes can be appropriate for highway driving when they are the correct size for the model, in sound condition, and inflated correctly. Speed ratings in this group include W-rated tires with a 168 mph ceiling and Y-rated tires with a 186+ mph ceiling, depending on size and brand. Those ratings are well beyond normal U.S. highway speeds, though they do not override the condition of the tire or the vehicle.

Real-world safety depends at least as much on the car as on the rating molded into the sidewall. A 2004 Acura with worn suspension parts, poor alignment, aged brakes, or old rubber is not made safer simply by having a high speed rating. For normal road use, focus first on condition, proper fitment, and inflation, then choose a tire whose rating and load capacity suit how the car will actually be driven.

Inflation pressure for a 2004 Acura should begin with the factory vehicle recommendation, while the tire’s maximum-pressure marking sets the upper limit associated with its maximum load rating rather than the default running pressure. Among these sizes, published maximum-load points include 1,356 pounds at 51 psi for one 205/55R16, 1,477 pounds at 50 or 51 psi in several 235/45R17 and 255/40R17 applications, 1,521 pounds at 50 or 51 psi in 215/50R17 and 225/55R16 applications, and 1,653 pounds at 50 or 51 psi in some 255/40R17 versions.

That distinction matters because a maximum-pressure figure is not the same thing as the pressure Acura intended for everyday driving. Use the door-jamb placard or owner’s manual for the baseline, then confirm that the chosen tire is being used within its own load and pressure limits. If the car has non-original wheels, unusual alignment settings, or a dedicated performance setup, a careful pressure check and wear reading become even more important.

Before a longer drive in a 2004 Acura, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is serviceable if the car carries one. Look closely at the valve stems, confirm that the tread is not aged or hardened, and verify that front and rear sizes are correctly positioned on an NSX. A quick walkaround should also include wheel damage and obvious alignment-related wear.

A longer trip in a 2004 Acura should also include a broader mechanical check beyond the tires. Fluids, brakes, cooling-system condition, and battery health all matter on a twenty-year-old performance or luxury car, especially one that may spend long stretches in storage. Tires are the first place many problems show themselves, so a careful inspection before departure is one of the simplest ways to prevent a roadside interruption.