The Ultimate Volkswagen Bolt Pattern & Center Bore Guide

If you’re just starting your search for a new set of aftermarket wheels, you might find yourself getting overwhelmed by the abundance of various wheel measurements and sizes available. While at face value wheels may seem like one of the more simple modifications you can do to your car, you will need to pay attention to a few key specifications to ensure your new set of aftermarket wheels fit your particular VW without any issues. The most important thing to look at first is the bolt pattern and center bore, as these two factors will determine if your wheels will be able to bolt up to your car or not. For the most part, Volkswagens are relatively simple when it comes to bolt pattern and centerbore but there are a few general rules to follow to ensure you select the right specifications for your specific vehicle. With that said, this guide will provide an in-depth breakdown of everything you need to know about the various bolt patterns and center bores offered across the numerous models and generations of enthusiast Volkswagens offered throughout the years. If you’d like to browse our specific wheel fitments we recommend for your VW, be sure to check out our VW Wheel & Tire Fitment Guides.

VW Bolt Pattern & Center Bore: General Rules

There are some general rules that are applicable across most VW models throughout the years. Mainly, all VWs will utilize lug bolts instead of studs and those lug bolts will all have a ball-seat head. Furthermore, practically all modern VWs will have a 57.1mm center bore with the exception of a few SUV models, such as the Touareg, which have a larger 66.6mm center bore. Additionally, just about all of the older VW models from the mid 70’s (MK1) to the late-90’s (MK3) will use a 4x100 bolt pattern. However, with the introduction of the MK4 in the early-2000’s, VW briefly moved to a 5x100 bolt pattern for that generation. Right around the release of the MK5 in the mid-2000’s, VW changed their bolt pattern once again, this time to a 5x112, which continues to be used on practically all modern VWs that have been released since.

VW Wheel Hardware

Practically all modern Volkswagens (MK4 and newer) will use a M14x1.5mm R13 ball seat lug bolt, while earlier models (MK3 and older) use a M12x1.5mm ball seat lug bolt. While lug bolts have always been the norm for VWs, aftermarket stud conversion kits, such as the ones we at Apex offer, are a very common upgrade across many enthusiasts. Compared to lug bolts, a stud conversion kit allows for a much easier experience when installing/uninstalling your wheels & tires, as you are able to simply “slide” your wheels onto the studs. With that said, all of our VW-specific wheels are designed to work with your OEM R13 lug bolts, so there is no need to run aftermarket lugs or studs if you prefer to reuse your factory hardware.

Wheel spacers can be used with stock or aftermarket wheels to improve appearance and achieve a “flush” look. These can also be used to clear brake and suspension packages that a wheel/tire fitment ordinarily would not be able to clear. Spacers will require longer wheel bolts or studs to support the spacer’s additional width. You can find Apex VW-specific spacers, stud kits, and bolts on our accessory pages.

Notable Mentions

While the above table organizes all of the various bolt patterns by chassis, there are some important transitions (as noted above in this article) VW enthusiasts should keep in mind to use as a rule of thumb. There could be a number of exceptions to these rules, so be sure to consult the table above for the exact specifications of your chassis. If you would like to learn more about the nuances of wheel bolt patterns and center bores, including what they are and how to measure them, you can check out our technical article and general guide here: Bolt Pattern & Centerbore Guide: What They Are and How to Measure Them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need wheel adapters or aftermarket hardware to run aftermarket wheels on my 5x112/57.1mm VW?

No, you will not need to run aftermarket adapters or hardware to fit Apex VW-specific wheels. All of our 5x112/57.1mm VW wheels are designed from the ground-up to be fully compatible with the factory VW 5x112 bolt pattern, 57.1mm center bore, and R13 ball seat lug seat type.

Can I use my OEM VW centercaps with Apex wheels?

Yes, you can run your OEM VW centercaps with our VW-specific wheels. While all of our VW wheels come with the black Apex logo centercaps included, our VW specific fitments will utilize the most commonly found OEM VW centercap size, which has an overall diameter of 66mm. However, VW has offered a few different OEM centercap sizes throughout the years, so if you have an older model with a smaller cap size, you will need to pick up a set of the newer 66mm VW centercaps to be able to use them with Apex wheels.

Do aftermarket wheels affect how much I should torque my wheels?

No, you should always follow your manufacturer’s recommended torque specs, commonly found in the driver’s side door jamb on most cars, even when using aftermarket wheels. The only exception to this rule is in the case of using aftermarket hardware, such as one of our stud conversion kits, which have unique torque requirements compared to the OEM VW lug bolts. Torque values are dictated more by the size and type of the wheel hardware, rather than if the wheel is OEM or aftermarket.

Can I use Audi spacers on my VW since they utilize the same 5x112 bolt pattern?

Yes and no. While modern VWs and Audis both share the same 5x112 bolt pattern, not all Audis share the same 57.1mm center bore. MQB-based Audis, such as the A3 or TT will have the same 57.1mm center bore but larger Audi models, such as the A4 or S5, will utilize a larger 66.6mm center bore. With that said, it is important to always check that the spacers you plan to run match both the 5x112 bolt pattern and 57.1mm center bore of your VW, as running a spacer with a larger 66.6mm center bore will have substantial safety risks since they will not be properly centered on your hubs.