The Nissan Bluebird (U12), built from 1987 to 1991, is one of the more overlooked JDM sedans in the export market — overshadowed by its Skyline and Silvia stablemates, but still turning up in daily-driver and street-snap form with period-correct wheels like RS Watanabe. Fitment questions for the U12 come up less often than for the popular sports coupes, which means fewer reliable answers are floating around online. Here’s what we verified.
Note: the wheels shown in the photo above are aftermarket RS Watanabe wheels, not the OEM specifications listed in the table below.
OEM Wheel Specifications
| Trim / Engine | OEM Rim Size | Bolt Pattern | Offset (ET) | OEM Tire Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 (U12), base/FE Saloon | 13x5J | 4×114.3 | ET40 | 165R13 / 165SR13 |
| 1.8 (ENU12) / 2.0 / 2.0 Turbo (HNU12) SSS | 14×5.5J | 4×114.3 | ET45 | 185/65R14 or 185/70R14 |
Bolt pattern: 4×114.3 is consistent across two independent Japanese OEM fitment databases we checked (Cars Japan and Spec Tank, both citing the same source registration data for the E-U12 chassis), and it matches a genuine U12 SSS OEM wheel currently listed by a Japanese used-parts dealer. We’re treating this as confirmed.
Offset splits by rim width in the same two databases: base 13-inch wheels run ET40, while the 14-inch wheels fitted to 1.8/2.0/Turbo SSS trims run ET45. The same used-parts listing for a genuine 14×5.5J SSS wheel confirms ET45 (labeled as “inset 45.00” in the listing), which lines up with the database figures.
Hub bore is the one number we could not fully confirm from an official source. The same genuine U12 SSS OEM wheel listing states a 66mm hub bore. We were not able to find a manufacturer spec sheet or a second independent source that states the exact decimal (66.0mm vs. 66.1mm — many other Nissan models of the same era use 66.1mm). Until we find a second source, treat 66mm as a close approximation rather than a confirmed exact figure — check your own hub before ordering hub-centric rings.
What This Means for Aftermarket Fitment
4×114.3 is a common pattern, so most aftermarket wheels sold for JDM applications will bolt on. The practical fitment question is almost always offset and hub bore, not the bolt pattern itself:
- Most aftermarket wheels are cast with a hub bore larger than the U12’s OEM hub (commonly 73mm or larger), so hub-centric rings are typically needed to keep the wheel centered on the hub rather than relying on the lug bolts alone.
- Offset outside the OEM ET40–ET45 range will change scrub radius and can affect fender clearance, especially on the 13-inch base cars where stock offset runs tighter (ET40) than the 14-inch SSS wheels (ET45).
Wheels Currently in Stock
We carry 4×114.3 wheels suited to this era of Nissan sedan, including period-correct multi-spoke designs like RS Watanabe. Check current stock and message us if you don’t see a fitment-confirmed set for your specific U12 trim — we source in Japan on request.
What We Could Not Verify
- The exact hub bore decimal (66.0mm vs. 66.1mm) — see note above. We found one consistent product-listing figure of 66mm but no independent manufacturer source to confirm the exact decimal.
- Wheel specs for the SSS ATTESA Limited (AWD) trim specifically. The sources we checked cover the mainline FF U12 lineup; we did not find a source that separately confirms whether the ATTESA AWD trim shares the same bolt pattern and offset as the FF cars, though we have no reason to believe it differs.
- Export-market (non-JDM) U12 variants sold under other names in some regions may use different wheel specs than the JDM data cited here. This guide covers the JDM U12 chassis only.
Sources: Cars Japan — Bluebird E-U12 wheel fitment data, Spec Tank — Bluebird E-U12 wheel fitment data, Wheel-Size.com — Nissan Bluebird VIII (U12) 1987-1991, genuine U12 SSS OEM wheel listing (used-parts retailer, hub bore and offset cross-check).