Nismo 57CR vs Gram Lights 57CR: What's the Difference?

The Nismo 57CR Clubsport Spec is not a different wheel. It's a Gram Lights 57CR that RAYS builds exclusively for Nissan Motorsports USA, with a gloss black finish, a machined Nismo logo and a Nismo center cap. Owners say the extra money goes to that cap and logo. That makes the regular 57CR our clear winner: same RAYS wheel, four bolt patterns instead of one, more finishes, and less money per wheel.

The short answer

The Nismo 57CR is a limited-production, 5x114.3-only version of the 57CR. It carries Nismo branding, a black finish similar to the LMGT4 Omori Spec, and 19-inch sizes billed as exclusive to the Clubsport finish. It's a badge wheel for Z people who want the Nismo name cut into the face.

Pick the Gram Lights 57CR if you want the RAYS concave five-spoke without paying for a logo. That covers every buyer we'd talk to, Z owners included. It's also the only way to get this design on 5x100, 5x112 or 5x120. You get the same wheel, a wider choice of colors, and the cash you save goes into sticky tires.

Nismo 57CR vs Gram Lights 57CR side by side

	Nismo 57CR	Gram Lights 57CR
Who makes it	RAYS, exclusively for Nissan Motorsports USA	RAYS Engineering (Gram Lights is its cast-wheel sub-brand)
Where it's made	-	Japan, in the same facilities as Volk Racing
Main lines	57CR Clubsport Spec (an addition to the 57CR line)	57CR, 57DR, 57ANA, 57BNA, 57CNA
Best at	Nismo branding and an Omori-style black look	The same RAYS 57CR for less, in more fitments and colors
Weak spot	Costs more per wheel for the logo and cap; 5x114.3 only; limited production	Cast, not forged like RAYS' Volk Racing wheels
Warranty	-	-
What we carry	-	17, 18 and 19 in.; 8.5, 9, 9.5 and 10.5 in. wide; 5x100, 5x112, 5x114.3, 5x120; offsets +12 to +45; Gunblue II, Glossy Black, Eternal Blue Pearl, Bronze II, E8 Gold, Ceramic White Pearl
Example price	-	57CR 18x9.5 +22 5x114.3 Gunblue II: $573.46

Is the Nismo 57CR really the same wheel?

For practical purposes, yes. RAYS makes it, and Nismo calls it an addition to the Gram Lights 57CR line, not a new design. Z owners who know both wheels call the Gram Lights 57CR "basically the same wheel," also made by RAYS.

What's different is the dress-up. The Clubsport gets a gloss black powdercoat with a machined Nismo logo on a concave face. Owners say the logo is engraved and that the extra cost covers that logo and the Nismo center cap. Nismo bills it as a flow-formed casting by RAYS Engineering, so it's a cast wheel, same as every Gram Lights.

Here's the Clubsport size spread:

Size	Nismo Clubsport offsets	Bolt pattern
18x9.5	+12, +22, +38	5x114.3
18x10.5	+12, +22	5x114.3
19x9.5	+25, +35	5x114.3
19x10.5	+12, +22	5x114.3

Nismo calls these sizes exclusive to the Clubsport finish. Z owners who lined the Clubsport up against the regular 57CR say the sizes look the same. The 18x9.5s certainly match: the regular 57CR comes in 18x9.5 at +38, +22 and +12. What's exclusive is getting those sizes in that Nismo finish.

The widths, 9.5 and 10.5, match the Z34 Nismo factory wheels. Some Z owners say the offsets are dialed for track use but not aggressive enough if you want street poke. "Poke" means the wheel sitting slightly past the fender.

Where Nismo 57CR wins

We'll give the Clubsport its due. It does a few things the regular 57CR doesn't.

• The badge. You get a machined Nismo logo on the face and a Nismo center cap. If you want the wheel to say Nismo, this is the only 57CR that does.
• The Omori look. The gloss black finish is similar to the LMGT4 Omori Spec. That's why the Clubsport looks right on a Nismo-themed Z. Some owners point out that it also looks like plenty of other five-spokes, the LMGT4 Omori Edition most of all.
• Brake clearance on paper. Nismo states that the Clubsport clears Akebono Sport Brakes. That's a straight answer for Z owners running that setup.
• Limited production. It was made in limited numbers, which gives it some collector appeal at Z meets.

That's the list. None of it makes the wheel stronger or better on track than a regular 57CR. It's finish, branding and a fitment note.

Where Gram Lights 57CR wins

• Price for the same wheel. Z owners say the regular 57CR in the exact same size costs noticeably less per wheel. You need four of either one, so the gap grows fast over a full set.
• More bolt patterns. The Clubsport is 5x114.3 only. The Gram Lights 57CR comes in 5x114.3 plus 5x100 Gram Lights wheels, 5x112 Gram Lights wheels and 5x120 Gram Lights wheels. That opens the design to far more cars.
• More finishes. Gunblue II, Glossy Black, Eternal Blue Pearl, Bronze II, E8 Gold and Ceramic White Pearl. If you want the Clubsport vibe, run black Gram Lights wheels. If you want something louder, go with bronze Gram Lights or gold Gram Lights.
• Personalization. You can add colored stickers to the 57CR, so you can match your livery or keep it clean.
• Same RAYS pedigree. RAYS was founded in 1973. Gram Lights launched in 2001 to deliver RAYS design and quality at a lower price, using advanced cast construction instead of the forging used for Volk Racing. The wheels come out of the same Japanese facilities as Volk Racing and go through RAYS' JWL+R Spec. 2 inspection standards.
• Racing roots. The "57" name traces back to RAYS race wheels, including the Toyota 84C in the 1985 WEC Japan race. It stands for the climb from grassroots racing to the top tier, and the 57CR is still the grassroots hero.
• Proven fitment across platforms. GR Corolla owners run 18x9.5 +38 with 275/35R18 tires and report no rubbing. Juke owners on 18x9.5 +38 in Gun Blue II report the same.

One more thing to watch, whichever 57CR you end up with: fakes are out there. On a real RAYS wheel, the model designation is engraved near the valve stem hole, and the logos are embossed or machined into the alloy. Fakes always weigh more than the published spec.

Running a BRZ? Our BRZ 5x100 wheel fitment guide covers sizes and offsets for the newer cars.

What we'd buy

A Nissan Z on 5x114.3 that wants the Nismo look. On a 2017 370Z, Clubsports in 18x9.5 +22 front and 18x10.5 +12 rear fit perfectly. That setup uses a 5mm spacer in the rear and Bridgestone RE71Rs in 245/40 and 275/35. If it were our Z, we'd run the Gram Lights 57CR in that same staggered spec and pocket the difference. You lose the engraved Nismo logo and keep everything that matters. Want to preview it first? See our Nissan Z and 5x114.3 visualizer builds.

A sport compact or hot hatch that wants meaty rubber. We'd run the Gram Lights 57CR in 18x9.5 +38. GR Corolla owners fit 275/35R18s on that spec with no rubbing. If you want flush, +22 is the usual call. We'd skip +12 unless you're ready to deal with rub.

A 5x100 car that splits time between the street and autocross. We'd put the 57CR 5x100 18x9.5 +38 on it in Gunblue II. It's a wide, concave wheel in a finish that doesn't show brake dust the way bright colors do. Glossy Black is the stealth option in the same size.

A 5x114.3 daily where you want a sensible tire and zero drama. We'd go with the 57CR 18x8.5 +37 in Glossy Black. You get the same five-spoke face in a narrower, milder fitment that's easier to live with every day.

The guy who wants the Nismo badge, period. The Clubsport is a limited-run, Nismo-branded 57CR, and the logo is its only real edge. Our call is still the Gram Lights 57CR in Glossy Black. Put the savings into a set of RE71Rs and you'll be quicker at the next track day, logo or not.

In stock now

Gram Lights 57CR

The 18x9.5 +22 5x114.3 in Gunblue II is for builds that want a flush, square 5x114.3 setup with real width.

The 18x8.5 +37 5x114.3 in Glossy Black is the mild, daily-friendly 57CR with the blacked-out Clubsport attitude.

The 18x9.5 +38 5x100 in Gunblue II is for 5x100 cars that want a wide wheel and a classic Gram Lights color.

The 18x9.5 +38 5x100 in Glossy Black is the same size in a stealth finish for 5x100 owners.

Want the full story on the wheel itself? Read our Gram Lights 57CR buyer's guide, then check fitment for your exact car with RAYS before you order. Other colors are on our blue Gram Lights wheels page, and every RAYS cast line is under all Gram Lights wheels.

Skip the logo tax. Shop every size and finish of the Gram Lights 57CR and build the set you actually want.

FAQ

What is the Nismo 57CR?

The Nismo 57CR is the Clubsport Spec version of the RAYS Gram Lights 57CR, built by RAYS exclusively for Nissan Motorsports USA. It comes in 5x114.3 only, with a gloss black powdercoat, a machined Nismo logo, a concave face and a Nismo center cap. Production was limited. Under the branding, it's the same 57CR design that Gram Lights sells in far more sizes and colors.

Is the Nismo 57CR Clubsport Spec wheel the same as the Gram Lights 57CR?

Essentially, yes. RAYS makes both, and the Clubsport is an addition to the 57CR line rather than a separate wheel. The differences are the black finish, the engraved Nismo logo, the center cap and sizes billed as exclusive to that finish. Owners comparing the two say the sizes look the same and the regular 57CR costs less per wheel.

Is the Nismo 57CR Clubsport Spec wheel sold as a single in black?

Yes. The Clubsport is priced per wheel in Gloss Black with a machined logo, so a full set means buying four. That per-wheel premium over the regular 57CR adds up across a set. We'd put that money toward the Gram Lights 57CR in Glossy Black, which gives you the same blacked-out five-spoke look without the branding upcharge.

Are Nismo 57CR wheels forged?

No. The Nismo 57CR is billed as a flow-formed casting made by RAYS Engineering, so it's a cast wheel. Gram Lights wheels are cast too. That's the whole point of the brand: RAYS design and quality at a lower price than its forged Volk Racing wheels. Many Gram Lights models also use RAYS' RCF method, which stretches and strengthens the barrel after casting.

Does Nismo make Gram Lights?

No. RAYS Engineering, the Japanese maker of Volk Racing, makes Gram Lights. Nismo's 57CR Clubsport Spec is a RAYS-built 57CR made exclusively for Nissan Motorsports USA, with Nismo branding added. That's why people search "Nismo Gram Lights": the Clubsport is a Gram Lights 57CR wearing a Nismo logo and center cap.