Table of Contents
Aftermarket Wheels on the Z31
Stock Wheel Information
General Information
This page is a guide to helping you determine the best sized wheels for your application. Read all the information on this page. Pay attention to the disclaimer at the bottom. Read all of them. Read them again. Then read them a third time. Any questions asked on the board that can be answered by these disclaimers will get you a verbal lashing and subject you to public humiliation.
Plus Sizing
| Width | Ratio | Diameter | Wheel Width | Outside Dia (mm) | Outside Dia (in) | Diff (mm) | Diff (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215 | 60 | 15 | 6.5 | 639.0 | 25.157 | 49.9 | 1.965 |
| 225 | 50 | 16 | 7.0 | 631.4 | 24.858 | 47.2 | 1.858 |
| 235 | 55 | 15 | 8.0 | 639.5 | 25.177 | 31.8 | 1.252 |
| 255 | 50 | 15 | 8.5 | 636.0 | 25.039 | 39.1 | 1.539 |
| 285 | 45 | 15 | 9.5 | 637.5 | 25.098 | 43.7 | 1.720 |
| 205 | 55 | 16 | 6.5 | 631.9 | 24.878 | 39.9 | 1.571 |
| 255 | 45 | 16 | 8.5 | 635.9 | 25.035 | 39.1 | 1.539 |
| 285 | 40 | 16 | 9.5 | 634.4 | 24.976 | 43.7 | 1.720 |
| 225 | 45 | 17 | 7.5 | 634.3 | 24.972 | 34.5 | 1.358 |
| 255 | 40 | 17 | 9.0 | 635.8 | 25.031 | 26.4 | 1.039 |
| 225 | 40 | 18 | 8.0 | 637.2 | 25.087 | 21.8 | 0.858 |
| 255 | 35 | 18 | 9.0 | 635.7 | 25.028 | 26.7 | 0.539 |
| 215 | 35 | 19 | 7.5 | 633.1 | 24.925 | 24.5 | 0.465 |
| 255 | 30 | 19 | 9.0 | 635.6 | 25.024 | 26.7 | 0.539 |
| 255 | 25 | 20 | 9.0 | 635.5 | 25.020 | 26.7 | 0.539 |
Tire Sizing
| Appl Model | 84/85 F | 84/85 R | AE/86 F | AE/86 R | 87-89 F | 87-89 R | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width | min | max | min | max | min | max | min | max | min | max | min | max |
| 205 | 3 | 42 | 3 | 62 | -17 | 42 | -15 | 62 | -7 | 52 | -12 | 72 |
| 215 | 8 | 37 | 8 | 57 | -12 | 37 | -10 | 57 | -2 | 47 | -7 | 67 |
| 225 | 13 | 32 | 13 | 52 | -7 | 32 | -5 | 52 | 3 | 42 | -2 | 62 |
| 235 | 18 | 27 | 18 | 47 | -2 | 27 | 0 | 47 | 8 | 37 | 3 | 57 |
| 245 | 23 | 42 | 3 | 22 | 5 | 42 | 13 | 32 | 8 | 52 | ||
| 255 | 28 | 37 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 37 | 18 | 27 | 13 | 47 | ||
| 265 | 15 | 32 | 18 | 42 | ||||||||
| 275 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 37 | ||||||||
| 285 | 28 | 32 | ||||||||||
Wheel Sizing
| Appl Model | 84/85 F | 84/85 R | AE/86 F | AE/86 R | 87-89 F | 87-89 R | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width | min | max | min | max | min | max | min | max | min | max | min | max |
| 7.0 | 2 | 41 | 2 | 66 | -16 | 41 | -14 | 66 | -6 | 53 | -6 | 76 |
| 7.5 | 9 | 34 | 9 | 59 | -9 | 34 | -7 | 59 | 1 | 46 | 1 | 69 |
| 8.0 | 15 | 28 | 15 | 53 | -3 | 28 | -1 | 53 | 7 | 40 | 7 | 63 |
| 8.5 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 47 | 3 | 22 | 5 | 47 | 13 | 34 | 13 | 57 |
| 9.0 | 28 | 40 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 40 | 20 | 27 | 20 | 50 | ||
| 9.5 | 34 | 34 | 18 | 34 | 26 | 44 | ||||||
| 10.0 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 38 | ||||||||
Disclaimer
- These numbers are for cars with the stock suspension.
- Please note that these are slightly conservative estimates.
- Not all wheels are created equally and may have more or less overhang depending on manufacturer and design.
- These numbers were calculated based off unverified information provided by users of wheelshow.
- Numbers were mostly based off 17“ wheels. Offset information will only vary by +/- 1mm for each 1” difference in diameter.
- Tire sizing information is based on tires that fall within the original overall tire diameter of 25 inches.
- The tables above show offset ranges. Pick an offset between the minimum and maximum recommended offset.
- Lower offset numbers will bring the tire/wheel out to the edge of the car. This is Good!
- Higher numbers will set the wheels farther under the car. This is battleship and this is BAD!
- NA strut housings will allow for a slightly higher offset.
- Adding spacers will reduce the offset number. i.e. Adding a 25mm spacer/adapter to a wheel with 25mm offset will effectively create a 0 offset wheel.
I NEED MORE HELP
Spacers can only lower the offset. To get more offset, you'd have to shave the hub of the wheel. This would be very expensive and then you might not clear your brakes. Lucky for you, most wheels available these days already come with high offsets.
To figure out how much of a spacer/adapter you need, it is only simple math. For instance, you pick up a set of wheels that are 17×7 with an offset of +42 for your 86 300ZX. First, expect people (especially butter) to laugh at you. Second, get some adapters IMMEDIATELY. To determine the actual spacer width you need, look at the chart above. Find the 7.0“ width row. Find the applicable year column. Look at the number where they meet. Minimum recommended offset is -16mm. To determine thickness, you subtract the recommended offset from the wheel's offset. In this case, you'd subtract -16 from 42. 42 - (-16) = 58. You'd want spacers/adapters that are 58mm thick. Or roughly 2”.