Alloy wheel PCD stands for Pitch Circle Diameter. It measures the diameter of the circle formed by the wheel bolt holes and determines whether an alloy wheel will fit your vehicle correctly. Alloy wheel PCD is usually written in a format such as 5×114.3, which means the wheel has 5 bolt holes with a 114.3mm bolt circle diameter.
How Is Alloy Wheel PCD Measured?
PCD stands for Pitch Circle Diameter and refers to the spacing of the wheel bolt holes. A wheel with the wrong PCD will not fit your vehicle’s hub.
Key Components of PCD:
- Number of Bolt Holes – the number of holes for the wheel bolts or studs (e.g., 4, 5, 6).
- Diameter of Circle – the diameter of the circle (in millimetres) that passes through the centre of the bolt holes.
For example, a PCD of 5×114.3 means:
- 5 bolt holes
- 114.3: Diameter (in mm) of the circle passing through the centre of these bolt holes.
Many people believe that alloy wheels are one size fits all; unfortunately, this is not the case. Just because you purchase a set of branded ‘Audi’ wheels for example doesn’t mean they will fit your Audi as there any many things to consider from PCD, to Offset, Wheel Width, Centre Bore, and overall wheel size. We will touch on the other considerations in other blog posts coming shortly.
Common Alloy Wheel PCD Examples
| PCD | Meaning |
| 4×100 | 4 bolt holes with 100mm spacing |
| 5×112 | 5 bolt holes with 112mm spacing |
| 5×114.3 | 5 bolt holes with 114.3mm spacing |
| 5×120 | 5 bolt holes with 120mm spacing |
How to Find Your Vehicle’s PCD
There are a few ways to find the PCD for your vehicle. The easiest starting point is your vehicle’s owner’s manual, which will typically list the wheel specification including PCD. Alternatively, you can search online using your vehicle’s registration number or make, model, and year, and a PCD lookup tool will bring up the correct fitment data.
If you’d rather measure it yourself, the method depends on how many bolt holes your wheel has. For a 4-bolt wheel, simply measure the distance between the centres of two bolts directly opposite each other. For a 5-bolt wheel, it’s slightly more complex as there is no bolt directly opposite, so you’ll need to measure from the centre of one bolt to the outer edge of the bolt two positions away, which gives you the PCD. For a 6-bolt wheel, measure centre to centre of two bolts directly opposite, as with a 4-bolt.
If you’re ever unsure, the team at Alloy Hub is on hand to help. Give us a call or drop us a message with your vehicle details and we’ll make sure you get the right fitment every time.
Can You Fit Wheels With the Wrong PCD?
In short, no. Fitting wheels with the wrong PCD is not safe and should never be attempted. If the PCD does not match your vehicle’s hub, the wheel will not sit correctly on the studs. Even if it appears to bolt on, the wheel will not be properly secured, which can lead to dangerous vibrations, stud damage, and in the worst cases, a wheel coming loose whilst driving.
Some people attempt to use PCD adapters to bridge the gap between mismatched fitments. Whilst these do exist, they introduce additional components into a safety-critical part of your vehicle and are not recommended for regular road use. They can also affect your vehicle’s handling characteristics and offset, which we’ll touch on below.
Always make sure the PCD of any wheel you purchase matches your vehicle’s specification exactly. If you’re buying from Alloy Hub, we verify fitment on every order to give you complete peace of mind.
PCD vs Offset, What’s the Difference?
PCD and offset are two separate measurements that both play a role in whether a wheel will fit your vehicle correctly, and they are often confused with one another.
As we’ve covered, PCD refers to the bolt hole pattern and determines whether the wheel will physically attach to your hub. Offset, on the other hand, refers to the distance between the centreline of the wheel and its mounting face (the flat surface that sits against the hub). Offset is measured in millimetres and is usually stamped on the inside of the wheel as ET followed by a number, for example ET35.
A positive offset means the mounting face is closer to the front face of the wheel, which tucks the wheel further into the wheel arch. A negative offset pushes the wheel further outward. Getting the offset wrong can cause your tyres to rub against the arch or suspension components, affect your vehicle’s handling, and in some cases put strain on your wheel bearings over time.
So whilst PCD determines whether a wheel can bolt on, offset determines how it sits once it’s on. Both measurements need to be correct for a proper, safe fitment. When shopping for alloy wheels, always check both figures against your vehicle’s specification.
