Got too adventurous while off-roading and gave your ride a bruised wheel? It happens to the best of us. Or maybe the wheels on your faithful Jeep Wrangler are past their best days and in need of a change?
You can easily figure out what wheel size you need by taking a quick look at your tires. The bolt pattern, however, is an entirely different ballgame. Read this thorough guide; we’re sure you will find everything you need to know!
Why is it Important to Know the Bolt Pattern on Your Jeep Wrangler?
Any responsible car owner must know their vehicle’s bolt pattern. This is because the need for a wheel change can arise at any time, and when that happens, you’ll need to know the bolt pattern.
Every vehicle has several bolts, or fingers, that stick out of its axle. These fingers fit into place on the bolt pattern on your wheel, hooking it into place. This allows for a safe and secure ride in your car.
When the fingers do not fit onto the bolt pattern, you have a problem. This means no matter how pretty that wheel looks, it simply will not work. You may choose to use a wheel adapter, but it will still mean your ride will not be as comfortable as it could have been, not to mention the safety hazards they pose.
That sounds like a bad situation to be in, right? It is exactly for this reason that you should know what the bolt pattern for your vehicle is before you purchase a wheel.
What Is the Bolt Pattern for my Jeep Wrangler?
The bolt pattern for your Jeep Wrangler will be specific to its model, and the year it was released.
The bolt pattern consists of two components. The first number is the number of bolts at the center of the wheel. This number is called the bolt pattern number. The second number is the distance between the bolts, also known as the bolt circle diameter number.
Together they give you the overall bolt pattern.
| Vehicle | Bolt Pattern |
| 2020-22 Jeep Gladiator JT | 5 on 5 |
| 18 – 22 Jeep Wrangler JL | 5 on 5 |
| 07 – 18 Jeep Wrangler JK | 5 on 5 |
| 97 – 06 Jeep Wrangler TJ | 5 on 4.5 |
| 87 – 95 Jeep Wrangler YJ | 5 on 4.5 |
| 41 – 86 Jeep MB & CJ Series | 5 on 5.5 |
| 84 – 01 Jeep Cherokee XJ & Commanche MJ | 5 on 4.5 |
| 93 – 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ | 5 on 4.5 |
| 99 – 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ | 5 on 5 |
| 05 – 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK | 5 on 5 |
| 11 – 19 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 | 5 on 5 |
| 14 – 19 Jeep Cherokee KL | 5 x 110 (metric) |
| 06 – 10 Jeep Commander XK | 5 on 5 |
| 02 – 12 Jeep Liberty KJ/KK | 5 on 4.5 |
| 07 – 16 Jeep Compass, Patriot | 5 on 4.5 |
| 62 – 73 Jeep J Series & Full Size Wagoneer | 5 on 5.5 |
| 74 – 91 Jeep J Series & Full Size Wagoneer | 6 on 5.5 |
How To Measure the Bolt Pattern On Your Jeep Wrangler Yourself
That said, if you’re not sure what the exact model for your Jeep Wrangler is, you can still figure out the bolt pattern by yourself!
We’d advise you to have a ruler handy before you attempt to do this. Simply eye-balling the measurements is a big no-no, considering the required preciseness.
Here’s how to do it:
- Pick any one of the 5 bolt holes that you can see.
- Using a ruler, measure the distance between that bolt hole and the one opposite. The distance will be your bolt pattern circle diameter.
- Your Bolt Pattern Number will be; the number of holes x the pattern circle diameter.
For e.g. 5 x 3.5= 17.5
What Type of Lug Nuts Should You Use?
If you’re trying to install a rim on your Jeep Wrangler yourself, you must know what lug nuts to use.
There are 3 types of lug bolts to use;
- If the lug holes are round, you should use a spherical lug nut.
- If they are tapered or have a sloped shape, you should use an acorn-shaped lug nut.
- If the lug holes are flat, use the standard shank-shaped lug nut.
When the lug holes are rounded or tapered, you’ll find that you can use lug nuts of different lengths without damaging your fancy rim. Working with flat lug holes can occasionally be frustrating since the length of the lug nuts needs to be extremely precise. To add to that, they’re also harder to remove!
What’s equally important is the thickness of the lug bolts. You’d want these bolts to be just the right thickness to fit into the bolt hole. If the lug bolts are too thick, they will not secure the rim of your wheel.
How to Torque a Lug Nut
After you’ve got the specifications right, it is super important for you to torque your lug nuts to the appropriate level. An under-torqued lug nut would be an obvious safety hazard. However, an over-torqued lug nut can be equally dangerous. If you make the mistake of over-torquing your lug nut, it may shear off. This could cause you to lose control of your Jeep while driving.
If you’d like to know what the torque specifications for your Jeep Wrangler are, you’ll find them in the owner’s handbook. However, check out the chart below if you’re like us and can’t hold onto things for dear life.
| Lug Size | Ft/Lbs Torque |
| 14 mm | 85-95 |
| 12 mm | 72-80 |
| ⅝ inch | 135-145 |
| 9/16 inch | 95-115 |
| ½ inch | 75-85 |
| 7/16″ inch | 55-65 |
Here’s how to tighten a lug nut by yourself
- Tighten the first lug to the proper torque.
- Skip the lug by its side, and tighten the next one after it.
- Continue doing this until all lugs have been torqued.
Conclusion
Any responsible vehicle owner needs to know the bolt pattern for their ride. Jeep Wrangler wheels can cost anywhere between $100-$500.
That is no small sum of money, so knowing what the bolt pattern for your vehicle is will help protect you from throwing that money down the drain with a mismatched wheel.
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FAQs
Are bolt pattern adapters safe to use on my Jeep Wrangler?
If you’ve purchased a wheel with the wrong bolt pattern, you can use a bolt pattern adapter. However, this comes at the cost of safety. Bolt Pattern adapters have been known to misalign under heavy hauling and sharp turns. New drivers should avoid using these adapters as they can change how the vehicle behaves.
Does the bolt pattern have to be exact on my Jeep Wrangler?
It is preferred for a wheel’s bolt pattern to match a vehicle exactly. This guarantees a secure and reliable mount for the car.
What is the most common bolt pattern on Jeep Wranglers?
The most common bolt pattern is 5 on 4.5. Most Jeep Wranglers from before 2007 have this bolt pattern.
Will the 5 x 5 bolt pattern fit on 5 x 4.5 Jeep Wrangler?
You may use an adapter and use a wheel with a 5 x 5 Bolt Pattern on a 5 x 4.5 vehicle. This does, however, come with safety implications that the driver should be aware of.