The hysteresis width of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) on a polyimide (PI) surfaces without side chains in nematic-cholesteric phase transition (NCPT) mode was investigated. The generated pretilt angle of ZLI-1132 was almost the same as that of 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) on a PI surface with both sides rubbed. The phase transition time of ZLI-1132 using NCPT mode was similar to that of 5CB on PI surfaces without rubbing-treatment. However, the hysteresis width increased with relation concentration of ZLI-1132 in a ZLI-1132-5CB mixture. The hysteresis width of NCPT mode was not dependent on pretilt angle. Consequently, the large hysteresis width of NCPT mode is attributed to the high elastic constants of the NLCs.