Between all of the 5-lug bolt patterns out there are any of them interchangeable?

[Car Guy]

Now I'm not talking about going from a 5 x 4 1/2 BP to a 5 x 114.3 BP. Which is the same just a different measuring system. I'm talking all metric here, like between GM's 115 and the real common 114.3, or Saab's 110 and Ford's 108? Now I'm sure with a little modification you can get anything to 'fit'? But I want to know if it can be safely done without harming anything else besides you when they fall off.

I've been contemplating this for awhile but never really found the answer. I then came across a newer Monte Carlo (115-BP) with chrome 17's off of a newer Chrysler 300(114.3-BP). I was standing there and I said to myself 'those aren't the same BP', but I wasn't 100% positive so I didn't say anything. I failed to look up close because I didn't know this person personally and he would have taken offense to it.

So I need someone to help me out here.....

Thanks

[CapriRacer]

The short answer is NO!!! If they were interchangeable they would have the same designation.

The long answer is that usually you can't eneough fit wheels with one bolt pattern onto a hub with another. But I think you've seen the exception.

And here's why this is a bad idea: Even though there is only a 0.7mm difference, if the wheels use a tapered lugnut, then the lugnut is off center and the entire clamping force is concentrated on a small area of the taper. What is likely to happen is the bumps and bangs of the road surface are going to cause additional stresses on the contact point and start to deform the metal, eventually causing the hole to become elongated and unusable. A worse scenario would be that the area around the hole would be stressed in such a way that a crack would develop at each hole, eventually leading to a failure 360 degrees around the wheel near the bolt holes.

The other possbility is that the lugnuts are non-tapered. If this is the case, if you can get the wheel on without the stud being in contact with the wheel, then it might be OK. The reason the contact between the wheel and the stud is important is that the stud should not be distorted when the nut is tightened, which is a distinct possibltity if they touch.

Hope this helps.

[Car Guy]

That is what I was thinking but I needed someone to confirm it. Once again CapriRacer, YOU ARE THE MAN! Thanks a bunch......

Car Guy

P.S. You should open your own rim/tire shop with all the knowledge you have, I haven't been able to stump you yet!......not that I'm trying :+)