How to Measure Wheel Rims

Tire School

How to Measure Wheel Rims

Careful measurements are critical to choose the right wheel rims for your vehicle, especially when you are unsure the size of your wheels or you don’t have the wheel drawing of the wheel.

To get started measuring, you’ll need a measuring tape, a straight edge ruler, and an optional caliper.

The key dimensions you’ll need are listed below:

 

★ Tire Size (Rim Width and Diameter)
★ Number of Bolt Holes
★ Bolt Hole Diameter
★ Center Hole Diameter
★ Bolt Hole Center to Bolt Hole Center(PCD)
★ Offset

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Critical data:

 

Tire Size
(Rim Width and Diameter)

To determine a wheel size, simply find your tire size on the side of your tire, then we can confirm the rim size. If you are not sure about the rim size, we need to measure the rim diameter and width.

Wheel Diameter: Wheel diameter refers to the wheel’s bead seat diameter and isn’t measured at the outside edge of the rim itself.

Wheel width: Rim width is measured between the bead walls, not at the overall width.

Using a tape measure, measure the overall diameter/width from one side of the rim to the other side, you can ignore the flange to get the actual diameter and width.

overall-diameter
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 Number of Bolt Holes

 Simply count the number of the bolt holes in the rims.

bolt-hole

Bolt Hole Diameter

Measure the diameter of one individual bolt hole.
Use a caliper for better accuracy.

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Center Hole Diameter

Measure the diameter of the center hole by choosing two points directly across from each other
(max width of the circle)

bcd

Bolt Hole Center to Bolt Hole Center (PCD)

 

PCD: Pitch Circle Diameter is the diameter of the circle that passes through the center of all studs, wheel bolts or wheel rim holes. 

Ways to measure different numbers of bolts holes.

• 4 holes: Measure from middle of two holes directly across from one another
• 5 holes: Measure from the middle point of one hole to the back end of the hole across from it.
• 6 holes: Measure from middle of two holes directly across from one another
• 8 holes: Measure from middle of two holes directly across from one another

Offset

The offset of a wheel is the distance from the mounting face (center disc) to the center line of the wheel. Usually, offset is measured in millimeters and results in three different types of offsets. PS: The mounting face refers to the backside of the center of a rim where your bolt pattern is. It faces the brake disc on a wheel.

Three Types of Offset:

 

Positive Offset: The mounting face is in front of the center of the wheel

Negative Offset: The mounting face is behind the center of the wheel.

Zero Offset: The back of the mounting face is in the center line of the rim.

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