How to Measure Lug Nut Spacing

Lug nut spacing is a combination of how many lug nuts hold the wheel in place and how far apart they are. If you've ever shopped for rims (wheels)--whether you're looking for a complete set or just an inexpensive steel rim to mount a spare tire on--you know that getting the correct number and spacing of lug nuts is critical; there's no safe way of adapting a wheel with the wrong nut pattern to a vehicle it wasn't intended for.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler or measuring tape

Instructions

1. Count the number of lug nuts--or lug nut holes--on the wheel in question.

2. Measure from the center of any one of the lug nuts--or lug nut holes--directly across to the center of the opposite lug nut or lug nut hole if the tire has an even number of lug nuts.

3. Measure from the back edge of any one lug nut to the center of the second lug nut going in either direction around the wheel if there are five lug nuts. This is the only odd-number configuration of lug nuts you should encounter.

4. Repeat the measuring process on another pair of lug nuts on the same wheel. This is a chance to double-check your measurements.

References

• ImportNut.net: Lug Nut Spacing