HOW TO MEASURE YOUR TRAILER WHEEL BOLT PATTERN

If you're replacing your trailer wheel, you've no doubt realized you need to know something called the bolt pattern (also called the lug pattern or bolt circle).

An 8-lug wheel needs to be replaced by another 8-lug wheel, but the number of bolt holes or lugs is only half the equation. The bolt pattern of a wheel is defined by two numbers: the number of bolt holes and the diameter of the circle (in inches) they form. Measuring for your pattern is pretty simple, but to make things even easier, you can use a bolt pattern template or print one.

If you'd rather measure it yourself, however, it's pretty simple to do. Below, we'll show you how to measure a bolt circle to determine the correct wheel bolt pattern of your trailer wheel.

Watch Now: How to Measure Your Trailer Wheel Bolt Pattern

Infographic showing a 6 on 5-1//2 bolt pattern and a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern

Determining Your Trailer Wheel Bolt Pattern

The first step in determining your wheel bolt pattern is counting how many bolts (or lugs) your wheel has. Typically this will be 4, 5, 6, or 8.

Next, you'll measure how many inches apart the bolt holes are.

These two steps together will give you your bolt hole pattern. For example, if you have a wheel with 5 bolt holes and they form a circle with a 5-1/2" diameter, you have a wheel with a 5 on 5-1/2 bolt pattern.

So how exactly do you measure between the bolt holes? The process differs a little depending on if your wheel has an even or odd number of holes. We'll go over the process for each below.

Bolt Patterns for Wheels with Even Bolt Holes

(4, 6, or 8 Holes)

To measure between the holes on a wheel with an even number of holes, simply measure from the center of one bolt hole to the center of its opposite to determine the diameter of the lug pattern.

Bolt Patterns for Wheels with 4 Bolt Holes

Common bolt patterns for wheels with 4 bolt holes are:

Bolt Patterns for Wheels with 6 Bolt Holes

Common bolt patterns for wheels with 6 bolt holes are:

6 on 5-1/2

Bolt Patterns for Wheels with 8 Bolt Holes

Common bolt patterns for wheels with 8 bolt holes are:

Bolt Patterns for Wheels with Odd Bolt Holes

(5 Holes)

Measuring the diameter of a bolt circle with an odd number of lugs isn't as straightforward. You can't measure straight across because there is no opposite bolt hole. However, there a few ways to get around this and figure out the bolt pattern you need for your new wheel.

Option 1 - Measure from Center to Edge

An easy way to determine bolt hole circle diameter on wheels with 5 bolt holes is to measure from the center of one bolt hole to the farthest edge of one of the two farthest holes.

Option 2 - Measure to Imaginary Bolt Hole Center

Measure from the center of one bolt hole to a point on the rim where the bolt hole would be on an odd-lug wheel. You must guess where this point is located if you want to measure the diameter this way.

Option 3 - Measure Adjacent Holes

You can also measure the center-to-center distance of adjacent holes. Then, compare the distance to those in the list below to find the circle diameter.

If the distance is:

2-5/8" - bolt pattern is 5 on 4-1/2

2-3/4" - the bolt pattern is 5 on 4-3/4

3" - the bolt pattern is 5 on 5

3-1/4" - the bolt pattern is 5 on 5-1/2

Still have questions?

Give our experts a call at 800-298-8924, or contact us online. We're happy to assist any way we can!

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Updated by: Amber S.

Updated on: 2/18/20

Carrie

7/26/2023

i had a tire blowout on my trailer and it destroyed the rim and tire. I ordered a new rim but the wrong size was installed. i needed a 14x5.5j 5x4.5 BUT they installed a 14x6 5x4.5. is this an accident waiting to happen or should i re order the correct size?

Mike L.

8/3/2023

@Carrie You'll want to make sure that all the wheels on your trailer are the same width. What you CAN do is keep the wheel you have as a temporary spare. That wheel will work okay as an emergency solution, but we wouldn't recommend using it full-time.

Ben R.

9/11/2022

I have an old homemade trailer that i have not been able to find a spare rim for. The rim is 15 inches, 5 lug pattern. The distance from the lug holes next to each other, center to center is 3 1/2". The distance between lug holes across from each other, center to center is 4 3/4". The center hole is 3 1/2 wide. Does anyone know what vehicle this came from? I was told it was built on an older Chevy or Ford frame but have not been able to confirm that.

Alex K.

11/14/2022

@BenR Same thing happened to me. I bought a homemade trailer that ended up having an old ford axle on it. After some measuring, I found out it was a 15x6 rim with a 5x5.5 bolt pattern (Or 5x139.7mm). Most replacement steel wheels have been discontinued and I had a hard time finding a spare rim (Ended up finding one today). My advice is to call wheel and tire shops, junkyards/salvage yards, or a classic car shop. Measure from the center of one hole to the farther edge of another hole (Measure the hole across, not side to side). Hope this helps. I think the old chevy pattern is 5x5 (5x127)

Chuck

12/28/2022

@AlexK 5x5.5 is a simple size from any Ram 1500 2002-present with 5 bolt holes. Also, many Fords use it. Should be extremely simple to find. Good luck

Mike L.

12/28/2022

We offer a 15 x 5 silver powder coated wheel wheel with a 5-on 4-3/4 inch bolt pattern as part # AM38NR that has a 3.19 pilot diameter that might work for your needs. You can see it by clicking the provided link.

David G.

3/25/2022

Very good! But I still measure 6 on 6 bolt pattern. Is that possible?

Les D.

3/28/2022

@DavidG most 6 lug tires, have lugs that are 5-1/2 inches apart. I would remeasure making sure to measure from the center of the lug holes. We do not carry any 6 on 6 inch patterned wheels.

Bob H.

3/6/2022

I bought a German trailer that has 13" wheels with a 4 X 100mm bolt pattern. Will a 4 inch bolt pattern work on this (101.8mm)?

Les D.

3/7/2022

BobH they need to be exact size to work. Replacing all axles, wheels, bearing, etc would likely be more costly than just buying another trailer.

Scottst

8/14/2023

@LesD Actually the complete axle packages on eTrailer are very cheap! I did a pretty big rebuild on a trailer and wish I had done it that way. My exact axle is there...

Mike L.

8/15/2023

@Scottst Sorry to hear that! If you ever need another one, you know where to go!

Angela B.

1/18/2022

For someone like me that doesn't know anything about trailers the etrailer experts know their stuff.

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