Buying aftermarket wheels can feel intimidating. There are three numbers that determine whether a wheel will physically fit your car: bolt pattern, offset, and center bore. Get any of them wrong, and the wheel either won't bolt on, will rub on suspension, or won't sit centered. Get them right, and the install takes 30 minutes in your driveway.
Bolt pattern (PCD)
Also called PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter). Written as [number of bolts] x [diameter in mm]. Example: 5x114.3 means five lugs arranged in a circle 114.3 mm across.
Common patterns by vehicle type:
- 5x114.3 — Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Ford Mustang, Tesla Model 3/Y
- 5x112 — most Audi, BMW (newer), Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen
- 5x120 — older BMW (E-chassis), Range Rover, Tesla Model S/X
- 6x139.7 — Toyota Tacoma, Tundra (older), Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra
- 6x135 — Ford F-150 (2004+)
The pattern is rigid — a 5x114.3 wheel will not fit on a 5x112 car. There are bolt-pattern adapters that exist, but for daily driving we recommend matching the OEM pattern.
Offset
Offset is the distance (in mm) from the wheel's mounting face to its true centerline. Written as +35 or -12.
-
Positive offset (
+35): the mounting face is forward of centerline. Wheel tucks into the fender. Common on FWD cars and most modern sedans. -
Zero offset (
0): mounting face is exactly at centerline. The wheel sits flush. -
Negative offset (
-12): mounting face is behind centerline. Wheel pokes out beyond the fender — the classic "deep-dish" or off-road look.
Wrong offset causes the wheel to either rub the inner suspension (too positive) or stick out past the fender (too negative). When in doubt, match OEM offset within ±5 mm.
Center bore
The diameter of the hole in the back of the wheel that fits over the hub. Measured in mm — e.g., 73.1.
The wheel center bore must be equal to or larger than the hub bore. If smaller, the wheel won't sit on the hub. If larger, you'll need hub-centric rings — small plastic or aluminum spacers that fill the gap and keep the wheel centered. Most aftermarket wheels are made oversized intentionally so they fit a range of vehicles; you order the right hub rings to match your car.
Reading our product listings
Every product on Wheel Haven shows these three specs in the title and the spec table:
Example: AVID.1 SL-01 18x9.5 | 5x114.3 | +38 | 73.1mm
- 18x9.5 — diameter and width in inches
- 5x114.3 — bolt pattern
- +38 — offset in mm
- 73.1mm — center bore
Cross-check those three numbers against your car's stock spec (in your owner's manual, or by VIN lookup), and you'll know it fits before you click checkout.
Still unsure? Call our team at +1 (416) 383-3446 with your year, make, model, and trim. We do this every day.