We are going to be looking at the Chevy Silverado lug pattern and the things you need to understand if you want to modify or upgrade your Silverado’s wheels. First of all, let’s start by defining what the lug pattern actually is. When you look at the wheels of any vehicle, you will discover that they have a specific number of lugs or bolts.
Bolt pattern or lug pattern are interchangeable terms; they refer to the same thing. You will discover that smaller vehicles have fewer bolts or lugs than larger ones.
Some will have 4, 5, 6, 8, or more lugs or bolts. If you see a nice set of rims and think about buying them for your Silverado, the vendor will ask you about the bolt pattern to ensure that those particular rims fit on your Silverado.
They will probably tell you that the bolt pattern for that particular wheel is 5×139.5. What that means is that the wheel has 5 lugs or bolts and the distance between two lugs directly opposite each other is 139mm.
Sometimes the millimeter measurement is given in inches. All you need to do is convert to inches or millimeters to establish if the 2 are the same.
What is the Bolt Pattern for a Chevy Silverado?
The bolt pattern for a Chevy Silverado is 6×139.7mm or 6×5.5 inches. Don’t get confused when you see the numbers either in mm or inches. A disclaimer regarding the bolt patterns being similar for all Chevy trucks and SUVs is that it only applies for models that were manufactured from 1999 onwards.
Chevy maintains a pretty simple system for their lug patterns. Basically, vehicles within the same size class will have a similar bolt pattern. In the case of a Silverado, it falls within the SUV and trucks class. All the vehicles in this classification have a 6 lug configuration.
What Size is Silverado Lug Nuts?
I’ve spoken about the bolt pattern for a Chevy Silverado but what size are the actual lug nuts? Well, the size of the nuts is 22mm. You will definitely need to know this information if you are looking at getting replacement nuts.
There are some aftermarket lug nuts that offer cosmetic effects and are quite popular. On the other hand, you may just need to replace worn-out lugs.
Can the Lug Pattern Be Modified?
Does it mean that if the wheels you saw don’t have a similar lug pattern you won’t be able to fit them on your Silverado? Not really. You can get wheels with a different lug pattern by making some modifications.
This has to be done by a qualified professional who is also able to ensure that whatever modification you are making will not raise safety concerns. To change your lug pattern, you use a wheel or lug adapter. This attaches to your wheel hub and will change your lug configuration.
What this means is that you can get an adapter that is suitable for your particular wheel. Besides lug adapters, there are wheels that are designed to support several lug nut configurations. For example, they can have 12 holes on them and are able to support 3, to 12 lug configurations.
They will also come with covers for the lug section so that the open lug holes are not visible. The diameter between lug nuts will differ on different wheels.
There are wheels that also support 2 different diameters. They will have 1 set of holes in an inner ring arrangement and another in an outer ring. With these types of wheels, you will not need to change the lug arrangement. It’s a safer and cheaper alternative to wheel adapters.
What Size are Stock Silverado Rims?
Bigger tires will often come into the conversation when considering what size rims to get for your Silverado. It’s particularly important to know when you are thinking of putting on some custom-made wheels.
What size are the stock rims and how big can you go? The stock Silverado rims are 33.5 inches. These can support 31.6 inches or 33 inches tires.
You can use 265/65/R18 or 275/60/R20 tires. You could go with bigger tires if you add an aftermarket lift but this has to be done in consultation with an experienced expert so that you avoid the associated problems that come with lifts.
Conclusion
All Chevy SUVs and trucks support the same lug pattern meaning that there is little to no confusion when it comes to replacing the tires. IF you want to go for aftermarket tires though, you need to be aware of the lug pattern.
This is especially the case when you are buying online like on Amazon.
You may not have a support person available to answer your question so it is imperative that you understand how everything works.
Tomas is a retired Chevy Auto Technician that brings decades of hands-on experience and expertise to the table. He’s also a father to two incredible daughters. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help you solve and find reliable information on Chevrolet vehicles. Whether it’s troubleshooting engine problems or providing tips for maintenance, Thomas is committed to helping Chevy owners keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.
