Will Those Wheels Fit my Vehicle?

By Nick Marchenko, PhD

Many people worry about if their car will be compatible with a new set of wheels. This is a normal reaction, given how complex the topic can be. But don't worry, we're here to help! In short, compatibility means that the two pieces fit together well.

How Complicated Is It?

It is easy to find your bolt pattern size on wheelssize.com. All you need to do is enter the information about your car and then you will see pictures of all the wheels that fit your car. You can pick whichever style and color you want.

Wheel and Tire Brands

Different brands of tires can go on different brands of wheels. They just have to match in size. Don't worry too much about the brand as long as it is the right size. But make sure they are both the same size and you should be fine.

Wheel Diameter

When you are shopping for wheels, you have to think about the size. You can choose to go bigger or smaller than your original equipment. If you do, you will also need new tires. The size of the wheel has to stay the same so that the odometer shows the right number of kilometers.

Most people change the size of their wheels for how they look, but some people choose to downsize so they can save money. The price of wheels (and tires) is usually directly related to their size: the bigger, the more expensive and vice versa.

Wheel Width

For most of the wheels we suggest, they will be wider than your original equipment. As long as they stay within the boundaries of your car- meaning they don't stick out of the fender and don't touch any of the mechanics (brakes, suspension, etc.), then you're good to go. But you will need to adjust the offset of the wheel to make sure it still looks balanced.

Wheel Offset

This is an illustration of a wheel and it tells you how the wheel is attached to the car. There are three different types of offsets. Zero offset, positive offset, and negative offset. Wheels with zero offset are on the left side of the wheel.

A positive offset means that the mounting part is more on the right side of the wheel and a negative means it's more on the left side of The most common type of wheel is zero or negative because they leave space for things like brakes and suspension. However, some people have wheels that are considered "concave" which means they have a lot of negative offset and this is mostly seen on tuning cars or trucks with lifted suspension.

Bolt Pattern or Bolt Circle

A bolt pattern is a way to make sure that the wheels on your car fit correctly. It can't be changed. Make sure it is the same as the one on your car's wheels. But some wheels are not specific to certain cars, so they will work with any car and its bolt pattern.

Wheel Hub and Center Bore

The hub is the center of a wheel. The size of it should be the same as your car's axle - and you can't change it. Some wheels are "replicas" - they have an opening that matches the axle perfectly, so you do not need to use any other things to make them fit. But if your wheels are "universal," you need to use a "centering ring." That is just a piece of plastic that makes everything fit together better.

Nick Marchenko, PhD

Industrial Engineer & Automotive Content Specialist

Nick writes in-depth guides on car clubs, engine specs, vehicle ownership, and modifications, combining engineering knowledge with automotive passion.

Full profile → LinkedIn →