I had to move my vette today and needed 1 rim and tire. So after a trip to the local used parts yard where I got a Chevy rim 5 x 4 3/4. I was surprised it didn't fit. For some reason my vette is 5 x 4 1/2 Front and rear are the same. All searches I did came up with a 4 3/4 lug diamiter Am I missing something?
You got the wrong wheel, yours is 4-3/4" measured on the lug circle. If you measure across two studs, it will measure 4-1/2", while the circle is 4-3/4" You might have got a 5" bolt circle wheel from a full size car from 71-up.
You sure you bought a 5 on 4-3/4 wheel or could it be a 5 on 5 wheel? Your measurement looks like a 5 on 4-3/4 hub, not 4-1/2. Check the measuring chart below:
I also don't think you got the correct bolt pattern wheel from the bone yard. Measure again, 5 x 4.75 is correct.
only the threads on the wheel studs are metric. they used the same 5 lug bolt pattern since 1949 other than the big Caprices and such but they were 5'' as stated
Why does everyone find it so damn hard to figure a bolt circle??? Did everyone forget what a "Circle" is?? Look at the drawing provided by NMcarnut above...he has drawn a "circle"thru the center of lug bolts..His "C" measurement should be measured from one lug bolt STRAIGHT across to centerline of drawn circle...not to another lugbolt.....Now just how hard is that? Been doing it that way for over 60 years
I've got a card in my wallet that has the correct measurements drawn out as shown in NMCarNut's post that Red Greth gave me.... I've also got one from Sonny's Automotive that has the same info. Been helpful several times.
Next time you measure go from the center of a stud, skip a stud, then go to the far edge (not the center) of the next stud. And yes, that's a 5" truck wheel.
His "C" measurement shows the distance between alternate stud centerlines, and matches the chart below the drawing. If there were a "D" measurement which was done as you described, measuring from the center of one stud straight across to the centerline of the circle, it would measure the actual diameter of the bolt pattern (5" in this case). So a 4.755 inch measurement between alternate lug centerlines is indeed a 5" bolt pattern. It's easier to discern the center point of a lug than it is to determine where that imaginary arc of the circle is midway between two lugs. That's why most people measure like the chart shows, vs what you describe.
[QUOTE="Ebbsspeed, post: 11565616, member: 9560". It's easier to discern the center point of a lug than it is to determine where that imaginary arc of the circle is midway between two lugs. That's why most people measure like the chart shows, vs what you describe.[/QUOTE Most people CAN tell where the 'imaginary"circle is At least one with common sense..Hell,I forgot this is 2016 and schools aren't what they used to be..Where they actually teach..
To the gentleman that disparaged my education I have no problem understanding how to measure. I was told incorrectly a long time ago, yesterday was the first time I had to use this information and I was wrong, now I know and will get the correct rim. I proudly graduated in the middle of my class of 1971 from MCHS home of The Battling Bathers