Just got back from the local discount 'big box' store (B.J.'s in Portsmouth NH) and had a disagreement with the gentleman at the tire counter. I go there because they have great tires at low prices which includes mounting/lifetime balancing/rotation/road hazard.
Was pricing out 4 Goodyear Eagles and he (tire manager) said that my 90 SE required 195/65HR15's. I've never seen a 3rd gen (stock) with anything but 205/65/HR15's, and that's what my Maxi has currently.
Short story: he said he wouldn't install anything but what the manufacturer calls for... I couldn't find a tire label to prove him wrong so I left without buying new tires.

Any help? Where is the tire label on these cars? What do you run on your stock rims?

Thanks;
Geerhed

 

There should be a sticker on the underside of the armrest. Correct size is 205/65-15

 

Aha! Thanks for the info.
I went to www.tirerack.com and used their website to find the stock tire size -- and it is 205/65HR15. However, I needed to know where it was written on the car. That will help.
Very curious because they had two reference books at the tire counter that showed the incorrect tire size (but they showed the 89 Maxima as taking 205/65-15's).
Thanks for the info.

 

You should have gave the guy a spinning jump kick to the side of the head after he said an SE requires 195. Gets me mad just reading it.

 

He may have gotten the GXE and SE confused. The rim width for the SE is 6.5" and only 6" for GXE rims.

 

I thought they had the same size tires, except the SE came with Z rated tires.

 

My spinning-jump-kick days are, sadly, far behind. However, as a Former Marine I might have had a "Boot Camp Flashback" on his a$$. (Parris Island, Class of '81)
Seriously, though: it was like I was in some episode of Twilight Zone: the guy kept pulling out reference books that showed the 90 SE taking 195/65-15's! Like I was driving a Yugo or something!
Glad this was all a bad nightmare!
I'll gladly go back there, show him the tire label (cleverly hidden in the armrest) and demand my 4 205/65HR15 Goodyear Eagles. Oh, and check the oil while you're at it.

 

10characters

 

Oops, sorry. Was thinking about something else. VR-Rated* for the SE then.. But again, weren't they the same size for GXE and SE?

11characters

 

I believe that in 1990 the SE, which still had the VG engine, came with H-rated tires. At least, that's what it says on my tire label:
"Recommended Tire Size: P205/65R15 92H"

 

Yeah, and once they changed the engine for the SE in 92, they changed the speed rating.

 

Only for the 5-speeds. Autos still had H rated IIRC.