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May 20, 2017

What Wheels Fit My R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R?


BBS LM Wheels . 18 x 10 + 20 offset. 
Now that we are seeing more and more legally imported, over 25 year old JDM Nissan Skyline GT-R in the US, there are lots of questions.   One of the more common questions is : What wheels fit?  What will these wheels look like? What is the widest wheel that will fit? What is the most aggressive fit?


Volk TE37SL 18 x 9.5 +22


First question -  What do you do with your car? 

Is it a daily driver? Is it a weekend car? Is it a car you use at the drag strip? Do you use it on the road course?

Second question - What brakes are you running?

Brakes make a big difference in what wheel and tire will clear and fit.

Third question - What compromises are you willing to make? 

Everything is a compromise, which are you willing to make for look vs performance.

OEM R32 GT-R 16 inch wheels. 16 x 8 +30


We see people touting lots of wheel sizes on their car, that they say fit, but we have no idea what they actually mean by that. If you have to put so much camber into the car, to fit the tire/wheel within the body lines then you are making some serious compromises in tire useage and braking.  While we are fans of the widest wheel and tire possible, there are real limits to what works for performance.  Once you start going stupidly outside of the body lines, you are effecting aerodynamics, braking, and handling.

If you have to eliminate suspension travel so your wheels or tires don't hit the body then obviously you are just all about the aesthetic, and "fit" really means nothing to you.  Have at it. Anything will "fit" but to work in a performance aspect, and work properly these wheel and tires should be contained within the body, and not rub or wear excessively

When we see some peoples fits- it brings 1980's Mini Trucking to mind. 

How to PROPERLY select and size TIRES for PERFORMANCE

On an R32 GT-R, about as wide a tire as you can go within OEM body lines is a 285/295 depending on brand on a 10.5 wide wheel.  At that width it will/can rub depending on ride height, camber, suspension, offset, and actual tread width.

18 x 11 +18 Volk TE37 Time Attack on an R32 GT-R with 305/35/18. If you think these fit, you are part of the problem, not the solution. 



A relatively normal size for an R32 would be a 17 x 9 (+20 to +30) with a 245 to 265.  That is an R33 GT-R size, and will have plenty of clearance assuming the offset isn't all jacked up.  In an 18, then a  18 x 9(+20 to +30) with a 245 to 265. Again assuming someone isn't trying to run 0 offset, then this size will have little drama associated with it.

Nissan Skyline GT-R  lug pattern is 5 x 114.3


Skyline GT-R Wheel and Tire size
Size Height
225/50/16 OEM R32 GT-R 24.86 in (631.4 mm)
125/90/16 OEM R32 GT-R spare 24.86 in (631.4 mm)
225/50/17 OEM Vspec 25.86 in (656.8 mm)
245/45/17 OEM Vspec II 25.68 in (652.3 mm)
245/45/17  OEM R33 GT-R 25.68 in (652.3 mm)
245/45/18 OEM R34 GT-R 26.68 in (677.7 mm)
145/70/17 OEM R34 spare 24.99 in (634.8 mm)
   
265/35/18 common GT-R size 25.3 in (642.7 mm)
275/35/18 less common GT-R size 25.58 in (649.7 mm)

BBS LM Wheels . 18 x 10 + 20 offset. 265 width tire

18 x 10.5 +22 Wheels with Staggered Tires on a Nissan Skyline GT-R


RE-71R post Hoonigan

These fenders have been rolled

Cornering at Autoclub Speedway in Fontana. Front and rear fenders are rolled


Something else to consider, wheel width

18 x 11 TE37 and a 18 x 10.5 TE37
The tires are the same. They are both 305/35/18 Toyo RA1's.  The wheel on the left is a 18 x 11, on the right a 18 x 10.5. Notice how much taller the 11 is. Notice how the 10.5 sidewalls are at an inward slant.


16 inch wheels



OEM R32 GT-R (not Vspec, or Vspec II) had 16 inch wheels. 
16 inch tire options. 

R32                 16 x 8 +30  225/50/16


OEM 16 inch wheel over a Brembo brake. It is making contact with the barrel. 

17 inch wheels

The Vspec, and Vspec II R32 GT-R had 17 inch wheels to clear the OEM Brembo brakes.  The R33 GT-R came with 17 inch wheels. 
Do 16 inch wheels fit over Brembo brakes? 


Vspec wheel over a OEM Brembo brake


R32 Vspec      17 x 8 +30 225/50/17
R32 Vspec II  17 x 8 +30 245/45/17

R33  17 x 9 +30  245/45/17


R34 GT-R OEM 18 inch wheels. 18 x9 +30 245/40/18


18 inch wheels

The 1999-2002 R34 GT-R had 18 inch wheels. 
R34   18 x9 +30 245/40/18


18 x 10 BBS vs 18 x 9.0 LMGT4 Both 265 tires. 
18 x9 +30 OEM R34 wheels on an R32 GT-R


17 x 9 Volk TE37
18 inch Volk TE37 and 17 inch Volk TE37. 


Buy USA Legal R32 Skylines at Importavehicle.com!
Buy-R.com for Nissan Skyline GT-R and GT-R parts.






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