Torque Staff Report
Sometimes it is inevitable. You like the wheels on your Jeep, but just saw a set on another Wrangler that you love more. Or, maybe you gave those wheels a bit of 'off-road' rock rash the last time you were on an adventure and want to change. Perhaps it is just time. It happens, but when it does and you are ready to pull the trigger on some new ones, it definitely can be a bit confusing on what wheel bolt pattern is right for your rig. You may know the wheel size you need thanks to your tires, but bolt pattern is a different story. That's because, while most Jeeps have a five lugs, different models have different spacing between the lugs. For example, all JK Wrangler vehicles (2007-18) have a 5x5 bolt pattern - meaning five lugs with a five inch spacing. Earlier TJ Wrangler models (1997-06) and YJ editions (1987-95) employ a 5x4.5 pattern. Other Jeeps may use different lug set ups, so our Jeep-specific chart below breaks down vehicle year/model and bolt pattern to help you decide which one exactly represents your vehicle.
| Vehicle/Year Ranges | OEM Wheel Size | Lug Pattern | Stud Size | Hub Center Bore |
| 2020-22 Jeep Gladiator JT | 17" - 18" | 5 on 5 | 14mm x 1.50 | 71.5 |
| 18 - 22 Jeep Wrangler JL | 17" - 18" | 5 on 5 | 14mm x 1.50 | 71.5 |
| 07 - 18 Jeep Wrangler JK | 17" - 18" | 5 on 5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 97 - 06 Jeep Wrangler TJ | 15" - 16" | 5 on 4.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 87 - 95 Jeep Wrangler YJ | 15" - 16" | 5 on 4.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 41 - 86 Jeep MB & CJ Series | 15" | 5 on 5.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 108 |
| 84 - 01 Jeep Cherokee XJ & Commanche MJ | 15" | 5 on 4.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 93 - 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ | 15" | 5 on 4.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 99 - 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ | 16" - 20" | 5 on 5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 05 - 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK | 16" - 20" | 5 on 5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 11 - 19 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 | 16" - 20" | 5 on 5 | 14mm x 150 | 71.5 |
| 14 - 19 Jeep Cherokee KL | 17" - 18" | 5 x 110(metric) | 12mm x 1.25 | 65.1 |
| 06 - 10 Jeep Commander XK | 17" - 18" | 5 on 5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 02 - 12 Jeep Liberty KJ/KK | 16" - 18" | 5 x 4.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 71.5 |
| 07 - 16 Jeep Compass, Patriot | 17" - 18" | 5 on 4.5 | 12 x 1.5 | 67.1 |
| 62 - 73 Jeep J Series & Full Size Wagoneer | 15" | 5 x 5.5 | 1/2 x 20 | 108 |
| 74 - 91 Jeep J Series & Full Size Wagoneer | 15" | 6 on 5.5 | 7/16 | 108 |
How to Measure Your Bolt Pattern
Now that you know bolt patterns, some of you may be unsure what type of Jeep you have or its year. Rather than go on an exhaustive trek to get that information, just measure that lug pattern size. First, count the lug bolt holes. On a Jeep, you normally have five lugs which makes measuring a bit tricky, but not difficult - you just need to measure the bolt pattern circle (the yellow circle on the diagram below). To do that, pick any bolt hole to start from, align your ruler at the outer most edge of the hole, then skip one bolt hole and measure to the center of the next adjacent hole (as indicated by the blue line in the diagram). That will give you your bolt pattern circle diameter (the yellow circle on the diagram). On this particular wheel, it has five holes and when we measured the bolt pattern circle diameter, it was 4.5". So, we would say the bolt pattern is 5 on 4.5 or 5x4.5.
How to Properly Torque Lug Nuts
Making sure those lug nuts are snug once the wheels go on isn't just lip service. It is something crucial to ensure proper safety when operating your Jeep vehicle. So, once those wheels are on your Jeep, start by using a good lug wrench like the Gorilla Power Lug Wrench and tighten the first lug to its proper torque (the exact torque for your vehicle can be found in your owners manual). Then, move to the lug nut adjacent to the one you tightened. Next, move back across the wheel again. Follow the pattern shown in the diagram below, working back and forth across the wheel until all lug nuts have been properly torqued. If your know your lug size, but do not have an owners manual, you can check our lug nut torque chart for the proper torque setting. One thing to keep in mind, do not over torque those lug nuts. Make sure you know the proper torque spec for your vehicle as over-torqued lug nuts can shear off and could cause you to lose control of the Jeep.
Once you have the proper bolt pattern for your Jeep, make sure to head over to our Wheel and Wheel Accessory page to check out all the great available options.
| Lug Size | Ft/Lbs Torque |
| 7/16" | 55-65 |
| 1/2" | 75-85 |
| 9/16" | 95-115 |
| 5/8" | 135-145 |
| 12mm | 72-80 |
| 14mm | 85-95 |
IMPORTANT NOTICE: After installing your new wheels lugs, please check the lug torque after 20-30 miles. Recheck the torque after an additional 100 miles.
Reference the Owner's Manual for factory specifications of proper wheel torque
