Wheel Question

[moliva1568]

If two cars have the same bolt pattern and rim diameter is the same, is the hub also the same? I ask because I went to put a wheel from an 84 caprice on a 74 pontiac catalina and the wheel wouldn't go over the hub. From what I've read they share the same bolt pattern.

Thanks

[slo99sierra]

The center hub bore on the wheel is smaller than the hub on the car. You would have to shave that bore bigger to fit. Same concept as putting a Chevrolet Silverado wheel on a Nissan Titan, the hub is different on the Titan. But the Titan wheel can fit the Silverado.

[moliva1568]

Ok thanks. Good thing I never caught a flat while using this wheel as an alternate to the tiny doughnut.

Is this variation something you see on factory wheels mostly? When I look for wheels on craigslist, you usually only see bolt pattern and I''ve bought based on that with no problems before.

[slo99sierra]

Originally Posted by moliva1568

Ok thanks. Good thing I never caught a flat while using this wheel as an alternate to the tiny doughnut.

Is this variation something you see on factory wheels mostly? When I look for wheels on craigslist, you usually only see bolt pattern and I''ve bought based on that with no problems before.

Yeah it seems to be only in OEM wheels. Aftermarket wheels are a different ball game.

[jdmccright]

Most reputable AM wheel manufacturers would be able to tell you if their wheels would fit a particular vehicle/model...places like Tire Rack consolidate all the info from them to tell you what will fit. The hub hole diameter should be listed in the wheel's basic info along with the bolt pattern.

Hope this helps.

[engineblock]

Most of the times the wheels do fit but cause balancing issues. I rode with a rented car driver and he put a smaller wheel than normal in Toyota Platz and it worked fine except for some balancing and handling issues

[shorod]

Originally Posted by engineblock

Most of the times the wheels do fit but cause balancing issues. I rode with a rented car driver and he put a smaller wheel than normal in Toyota Platz and it worked fine except for some balancing and handling issues

The balancing is performed independent of the vehicle (except for rare cases where the wheel is dynamically balanced on the car) so the act of putting an aftermarket smaller wheel on a car would not cause a balancing issue. Putting one wheel/tire combination on that is different from the other three, either in sidewall dimension or height, would certainly cause handling issues, but should not be the source of a balancing issue.

-Rod