Tire & Wheel sizing information

[Cbussilver01es]

I really dont know if this is worthy of a sticky or not, but I'll take a stab at it :

When ordering a set of wheels for your car, there are a few things to take in consideration.

• The Lug or Bolt pattern
• The diameter of the lug circle
• The Offset
• Wheel size
• Centerbore

Bolt pattern

I dont think I need to explain too much on this subject. Its just the pattern of your lugs on the hub, Most cars come in a 4 lug, or 5 lug pattern, ( Some trucks come with higher numbers)

Lug circle diameter

I could get all technical and stuff, but I'll save the dramatics, and go ahead and just simplify it. Basically the lug circle diameter is when the center point of all the lugs are all within the same circumference on the hub and the wheel. Are we lost yet?

Offset

offset is usually measured in millimeters, can be negative ( - ) or positive ( + ) it's the distance from the mounting surface to the rim's center. Basically

A positive offset is when the rims in the front of the mounting surface and toward the center of the fender.

A negative offset is when the rim is away from the surface and sticking out of the wheel well (see below)


Wheel size

ok ok everyone knows the deal with wheel and tire sizing or at least have seen the numbers 225/70R14

225 in this case, is the width of the rim in Millimeters. The three digit number in wheel and tire sizes signify this. 70 is the aspect ratio, (or Height to width ratio) and 14 is the diamter of the rim.

Ok so now that I wrote a novel, if anyone wants me to add to this or feel that I am wrong, by any means let me know! lol I didnt really see a sticky yet in this section so maybe this will help ppl better understand wheel/tire sizing.

[yellowpatrol]

When it says bolt pattern 5.00" is that the same as 5 x 100?

[bigbird]

When it says bolt pattern 5.00" is that the same as 5 x 100?

no that is a 5 inch bolt circle vs the 100mm bolt circle.

[yellowpatrol]

When it says bolt pattern 5.00" is that the same as 5 x 100?

no that is a 5 inch bolt circle vs the 100mm bolt circle.

It would be too difficult to use the same system of measurement, wouldn't it?

[Diablo0]

Wheel size

ok ok everyone knows the deal with wheel and tire sizing or at least have seen the numbers 225/70R14

225 in this case, is the width of the rim in Millimeters. The three digit number in wheel and tire sizes signify this. 70 is the aspect ratio, (or Height to width ratio) and 14 is the diamter of the rim.

Nice writeup.. however, thats more of an explanation of tire size rather than wheel size.

[OB]

Wheel size

ok ok everyone knows the deal with wheel and tire sizing or at least have seen the numbers 225/70R14

225 in this case, is the width of the rim in Millimeters. The three digit number in wheel and tire sizes signify this. 70 is the aspect ratio, (or Height to width ratio) and 14 is the diamter of the rim.

Nice writeup.. however, thats more of an explanation of tire size rather than wheel size.

Correct, 225 refers to the tires width in mm. The only portion of a tire size number that refers to the wheel in any way is the last number, corresponding to the wheel's diameter in inches. Wheel width, offset, backspacing, and bolt pattern are exclusive to the wheel and can only be found stamped on said wheel or from a manufacturers data online or elsewhere.

[yellowpatrol]

I think this deserves a sticky, it could prevent a lot of repeat questions.