The Nissan Sunny tyre size splits by trim: XE and XL cars sit on 185/70 R14 rubber over 14 inch steel wheels hidden behind full covers, while XV cars wear 185/65 R15 on 15 inch alloys. Petrol, diesel and CVT Sunnys all follow that same split.
Nissan has stopped selling the Sunny new, yet its limo sized rear seat keeps it working as a family car and an airport cab, often with five aboard plus suitcases. That puts extra weight on tyre choice and inflation. Read on for what both sizes mean, how they stack up, and a checklist for buying a fresh set.
Sunny fitment card
- XE, XL tyre size
- 185/70 R14 on steel wheels with full covers
- XV tyre size
- 185/65 R15 on alloy wheels
- Tyre pressure (cold)
- Read the driver door sticker or owner's manual
- Status
- No longer sold new
Nissan Sunny tyre size table
| Variant | Front | Rear | Wheel |
|---|---|---|---|
| XE (petrol) | 185/70 R14 | 185/70 R14 | 14 inch steel with cover |
| XL (petrol, diesel) | 185/70 R14 | 185/70 R14 | 14 inch steel with cover |
| XV, XV D | 185/65 R15 | 185/65 R15 | 15 inch alloy |
| XV CVT | 185/65 R15 | 185/65 R15 | 15 inch alloy |
One listing puts the CVT automatic on 185/70 R14; most other sources, and the alloys that car shipped with, point to 185/65 R15. Your own Sunny's rubber settles it.
The two sizes compared
| Size | Sidewall | Overall diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 185/70 R14 | about 130 mm | 614.6 mm |
| 185/65 R15 | about 120 mm | 621.5 mm |
Only around 1 percent separates their heights, which is how Nissan could put both on one body. The 14 inch option keeps a deeper sidewall and copes with rutted roads slightly better; the alloy wheeled XV has a sportier stance with marginally keener steering. Width is 185 mm either way, so wet grip barely differs.
Fitting XV alloys to an XL
Since Nissan itself paired this body with 185/65 R15, putting an XE or XL on genuine XV alloys and 185/65 R15 rubber repeats a factory pairing. Non Nissan rims must copy the Sunny's bolt circle, centring bore and offset; our stud pattern calculator shows how. Stepping to 16 inch, say 195/55 R16 at roughly 621 mm, holds the height but thins the sidewall further, and on a Sunny that does cab duty on poor roads that tends to mean bent rims. Let your insurer know about any wheel change.
Pressure: where to find the right figure
Nissan's own cold figure for the Sunny eluded our research, so no number appears here. Look for the placard in the driver door opening or the Nissan handbook; a separate, higher value for full load is often listed. When five adults and a loaded boot are aboard, use that higher value if your placard gives it. Inflate before driving, and disregard the maximum embossed beside the bead. Our guide to tyre pressure covers cold readings and unit conversions.
Signs a Sunny needs new tyres
- Tread down at the moulded indicators. On a heavy sedan doing rainy highway runs, change a little sooner.
- Front tyres worn on their inside shoulders, a hint that the geometry has drifted; book a wheel alignment.
- A shudder through the wheel near 80 to 100 km/h, usually balance.
- A swelling or a deep slice. Have a tyre technician examine it before any long drive; get there at low speed.
- Rubber past five or six years of age, tread or not; learn to read age on our date code explainer.
Spare tyre and rotation
Open the boot and note whether your Sunny's spare sits on steel or alloy and what size it wears; on some cars it differs from the road tyres. When it matches, rotate all five every 10,000 km so all five age together. When it does not, keep it strictly for emergencies. Our spare wheel page explains the limits.
Similar sedans
Owners comparing roomy saloons can read the City, Verna and Ciaz sizing pages. Our master list of car tyre sizes covers the rest.
Questions owners ask
Nissan Sunny tyre size: 14 or 15 inch?
XE and XL cars run 185/70 R14 on steel wheels; XV cars run 185/65 R15 on alloys.
Diesel Sunny: any tyre difference?
No. Trim decides it, not fuel. A diesel XL runs 185/70 R14 and a diesel XV runs 185/65 R15.
Could a Sunny XL wear 185/65 R15?
Yes, on 15 inch rims matching the PCD, centre bore and offset. Nissan fitted that size to the XV, so it suits the car.
Sunny tyre pressure: where is it listed?
On the placard in the driver door opening and in the Nissan handbook. Set it with tyres cold, and switch to the full load value for five passengers with bags.
Is the Sunny still sold new?
No. Nissan has stopped selling it new, though tyres in both sizes are easy to buy.
Is rotation worth doing on a Sunny?
Yes. A swap every 10,000 km evens front and rear wear, valuable for a sedan carrying full cabins most days.