Finding the right wheel fitment for the Nissan GT-R R35 takes some effort, but we’ve done the research so you don’t have to. The R35 came to the USA market in 2009 and the last Nissan GT-R R35 is scheduled to be built in 2025. Where power and some aesthetics have changed, the majority of the vehicle has been left the same. With a 20 inch OEM wheel size, the only difference ever in the wheels was from the Nismo edition using a 14×1.5 wheel bolt.
So what are the important numbers to look at when it comes to wheel sizing? First you have the diameter. This is the wheels main size as you look at its face. Diameter takes us back to Junior High and looking at the centerline of a circle. But it’s important to understand how different diameters can affect performance. Larger diameter wheels require more effort to spin. So this could reduce performance. Taking this into consideration, putting 22 inch wheels on a Nissan GT-R may not be a great idea. One of the big considerations when evaluating what wheel size to go with is tire availability. Depending on your vehicle use, some sizes may not be available in certain compounds such as track tires. Trying to find an R Compound tire for the track in a 21 inch is not going to be easy. Where sizes such as 18 inch you can find several different tire brands available. Smaller diameter wheels have to be able to clear the Nissan GT-R massive brakes. So understanding the offset and width is key to the right wheel size.
Wheel width is exactly how it sounds. How wide the wheel is when it is touching the ground. The Nissan GT-R uses a pretty wide wheel stock. The stock wheel is a 20×9.5 +45 and 20×10.5 +25. There is a lot of room in the fenders to go with a wider wheel to get better traction. The wheel offset is what can determine how wide of a wheel you can go to properly clear the brake caliper, stay in the fender well, and not hit the coilovers. Offset is measured as backspacing from the wheel pad where it mates up to the brake rotor hat. The lower the number the offset is, the further it is pushed out towards the fender. The higher the number it is more tucked in. So if you compare a wheel offset of 25, to a wheel offset of 50, the 25 offset will sit with the outside edge closer to the fender lip.
Some additional numbers to take into consideration for your wheel specs are bolt pattern, centerbore, weight, and load rating. Bolt pattern is very specific to each vehicle. If a vehicle runs a 5×114.3 bolt pattern, you cannot put a 5×120 wheel on it. There are spacer conversions available on sites like Amazon, but for a car like a Nissan GT-R, you would not want to do this. As mentioned above, the wheel bolts that the wheel mounts on to is different between the standard and Nismo versions. Centerbore is the hole that fits over the brake rotor lip in-between the bolt pattern. This is what keeps your wheel hubcentric and balanced. Many companies sell hubcentric rings for wheels that are more universally bored out. This is not wrong or bad. It’s a way to have a wheel available for many different applications. Wheel load rating is important for the safety of you and your vehicle. If the wheel construction is not rated for your vehicles weight, you could have catastrophic failures in the wheel. For example you would never want to put a Toyota Prius wheel on a Tesla Model S. The weight difference would put that wheel under extreme stress which may lead to cracking. But in our eyes, the most important number after all the others is wheel weight.
Wheel weight is hugely important to the performance of your vehicle. Rotational weight has a factor of 3x compared to static weight. If you save 10lbs on upgrading your wheel per corner, that is like saving 30lbs per corner. The less the engine has to work to get your car rolling, the faster it will go. So when looking at different wheels, it’s important to compare them to the stock wheel weight to see how they will perform.
After evaluating a variety of great wheel setups for the Nissan GT-R, we’ve pinpointed the best options that balance performance, practicality, and style for you. Whether you’re preparing for the track or just aiming for a clean street look, these fitments will ensure your Nissan GT-R performs as well as it looks.
Recommended Fitment:
- Front 20×10 +30mm 5×114.3
- Rear- 20×12 +25mm 5×114.3
Aggressive Track Fitment:
- Front 18×10 +15mm 5×114.3
- Rear 18×12 +25mm 5×114.3
Our Top Wheel Choices
- Volk Racing – This iconic JDM wheel company is a top pick for many GT-R owners. Their 1pc forged aluminum wheels come in the right sizes and look to properly equip your Nissan GTR. The most common wheel is the TE37 and the variants of that style from Volk Racing.
- Advan is another Japanese brand by Yokohama. Their wheels are also a staple on many GT-R owners cars. These wheels are typically a flow forge or cast construction. Some of their wheels are fully forged as well. Popular models such as the Advan GT and Advan RZ can be found on different GT-R owners cars.
- Work Wheels – This is another Japanese wheel manufacture that is synomonyous with racing heritage. Their wheels are available as 1pc or multi-piece construction. Work Meister wheels are pretty common for popular JDM cars such as the Nissan GT-R.
- BBS Wheels – This is the most common name in motorsports and racing. BBS has a long standing heritage in high performance vehicles. Their Forged Line of wheels brings a good balance of style and performance to the Nissan GT-R community.
- There are several USA wheel manufactures that built great custom wheels for the Nissan GT-R. This includes companies like HRE Wheels, Brixton Forged, Rotiform. Getting a custom wheel in a 1pc forged monoblock or 3pc forged in your own color and style is a true way to separate your Nissan GT-R from the others.
- Of course we have our very own VR Forged wheel line up. Available in ready to ship instock 1pc forged wheels or custom designed, our own wheel line has taken queues from our 20+ years of experience to provide a lightweight functional wheel for Nissan GT-R owners.
View Different Wheels on the Nissan GT-R
