Bolt pattern (PCD) explained
What a bolt pattern like 5×114.3 means, how to measure yours with a ruler, the mm ↔ inch conversions, and why PCD is only part of wheel fitment.
- A bolt pattern is written studs × PCD: 5×114.3 = five studs on an imaginary circle of 114.3 mm diameter.
- You can’t measure the circle directly on even-lug wheels — measure adjacent studs and convert with the sine factor.
- PCD must match exactly. "Half a millimetre off" is a different pattern, not a close one.
What PCD actually is
Look at a wheel hub and the studs sit evenly spaced on an invisible circle. The diameter of that circle is the pitch circle diameter — PCD — and together with the stud count it makes the bolt pattern: 5×114.3 means five studs on a 114.3 mm circle.
Two naming worlds collide here: metric patterns in millimetres (5×112) and imperial ones in inches (5×4.5″). They mix freely — 114.3 mm is exactly 4.5 inches — so the same car may be listed as 5×114.3 or 5×4.5 depending on where you read it.
How to measure it
On a 4- or 6-lug you can measure straight across, centre of one stud to centre of the opposite one — that distance is the PCD. A 5-lug has no opposite stud, so measure adjacent studs, centre to centre, and convert:
PCD = adjacent gap ÷ sin(180° ÷ studs)
The factors to remember: 4-lug 0.707 · 5-lug 0.588 · 6-lug 0.500. So a 5-lug gap of 67.2 mm ÷ 0.588 = 114.3 mm. Measure twice with calipers if you can — a millimetre of ruler error moves the answer by nearly two.
- Measure the adjacent gap
Centre of one stud to centre of the next, in millimetres. On 4- and 6-lug you can cheat: opposite studs give PCD directly.
- Divide by the factor
4-lug: gap ÷ 0.707 · 5-lug: gap ÷ 0.588 · 6-lug: gap ÷ 0.500. The result is your PCD in mm.
- Round to a standard pattern
Real PCDs come in fixed values — check yours against the calculator’s common-pattern list before ordering wheels.
Common patterns
The usual suspects, metric and inch names side by side:
| Pattern | Also written | Commonly found on |
|---|---|---|
| 4×100 | 4×3.94″ | older Honda, Toyota, Mazda small cars |
| 4×108 | 4×4.25″ | Ford (EU), Peugeot, Citroën |
| 4×114.3 | 4×4.5″ | older Nissan, Honda, many classics |
| 5×112 | 5×4.41″ | VW, Audi, Mercedes |
| 5×114.3 | 5×4.5″ | most Japanese cars, Tesla |
| 5×120 | 5×4.72″ | BMW |
| 5×120.65 | 5×4.75″ | Corvette |
| 6×139.7 | 6×5.5″ | Toyota & Nissan trucks, many 4×4s |
PCD is not the whole fitment story
A matching bolt pattern gets the wheel onto the studs — three more numbers decide whether it actually fits:
- Centre bore — the hole in the middle must match the hub (or use hub-centric rings), or the wheel centers on the studs and vibrates.
- Offset (ET) — where the mounting face sits; wrong offset means rubbing on suspension or fender, or stressed bearings. Our offset guide covers it properly.
- Hardware — stud/nut seat type (conical, ball, flat), thread size and engagement length all have to match the wheel.
Quick reference
Studs × circle diameter. Measure adjacent studs and divide by the sine factor (4-lug 0.707, 5-lug 0.588, 6-lug 0.500) — or measure opposite studs on even patterns. Match PCD exactly, then check centre bore, offset and hardware before the wheels ever leave their boxes.
FAQ
How do I measure a 5-lug pattern with just a ruler?
Measure the distance between the centers of two adjacent studs in millimetres, then divide by 0.588 — the result is your PCD. A 67.2 mm gap means 5×114.3. Calipers help; even 1 mm of measuring error shifts the answer by almost 2 mm, so compare against the common-pattern list.
Is 5×114.3 the same as 5×4.5?
Yes — 114.3 mm is exactly 4.5 inches. Metric and inch names are used interchangeably for the same patterns: 5×120 is 5×4.72″, 6×139.7 is 6×5.5″. The bolt circle doesn’t care which units you bought it in.
What else has to match besides the bolt pattern?
Centre bore (or hub-centric rings), wheel offset (ET), and the hardware — stud or bolt seat shape, thread and engagement. PCD only gets the wheel onto the studs; the rest decides whether it runs true and clears the car.