this may be a stupid question but i was wondering what the difference was between 4 lug and 5 lug...are there any benefits??? and why do some cars use 4 lug instead of 5? thanks

 

There will be less torque load per stud.

 

dont mean to be an *** but could you maybe explain a little more in how that is better

 

The individual wheel studs are subjected to less force when there are more of them absorbing the force. This is the reason Semi's have about 10 lug wheels.

 

basically if you are not racing your car, then you won't need 5 lugs.

4 lugs are fine for daily uses.

 

5lugg is always better haha...

 

4 lug is lighter unsprung

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Spoon-EK9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">basically if you are not racing your car, then you won't need 5 lugs.

4 lugs are fine for daily uses.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't see road-racers or drag-racers doing 5 lug conversions. Only JDM stunnas...

 

Most do it for appearance, on occasion there's some one that does it for the upgraded brakes

But, i only see it as more weight

 

I have considered doing a five lug conversion for the wider selection of wheel offsets available to that bolt pattern.

 

Yeah, the 4x100 pattern can make it hard to find just the right wheels if your really picky (like me). Most are corny tuner rims that go out of style within a few years (the JDM knockoffs are nice though)...

I bought my Konig GT-Rs 7 years ago, and since then I haven't seen any others wheels I would rather have (that came in 4x100)...

 

On a lightweight car the force exerted on the studs will be lower than for a heavy car. Assuming equal stud thickness, the more studs you have the more force the wheel/hub can handle before failing.

That's why heavy duty trucks have 6 or 8 lugs and why lightweight econo cars have 3 or 4. If you are going to be taking your car to the track and running it at the cornering limit a lot then 5 lug for a lightweight car may be adviseable (that's why the Type R has 5 lug but the regular Integra has 4). Other than the strength issue 5 lug is just for bling.

regards,
alan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you are going to be taking your car to the track and running it at the cornering limit a lot then 5 lug for a lightweight car may be adviseable (that's why the Type R has 5 lug but the regular Integra has 4). Other than the strength issue 5 lug is just for bling.

regards,
alan</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with this guy, as well as the guys who commented on wheel/offset choices. One of the best perks IMO is the better brakes. Not only the stock type R brakes, but from there you can upgrade with oem pads, calipers and rotors relatively cheaply.

 

I guess Formula 1 cars have the weakest hubs of all because they use 1 lug.

Strength is a non issue.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guess Formula 1 cars have the weakest hubs of all because they use 1 lug.

Strength is a non issue.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Assuming equal stud thickness, the more studs you have the more force the wheel/hub can handle before failing.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

dont forget that an ITR 5-lug hub uses a wheel bearing that is 10mm wider in order to reduce camber while making a turn, yielding more control. Mainly its just for show, because they can.

 

If your wheel bearings are causing any camber, your suspension is in big trouble...

 

Honda seems to think there is an advantage. All the new civics are 5-lug.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EG6_GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Honda seems to think there is an advantage. All the new civics are 5-lug.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's because they are all fat pigs now...

If you want to know what REALLY works, just take a look at what the road racers use on their cars. If you don't see people running 5-lug conversions (where they are legal), then you know there is no "real" benifit...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94eg! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you want to know what REALLY works, just take a look at what the road racers use on their cars. If you don't see people running 5-lug conversions (where they are legal), then you know there is no "real" benifit...</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'd be willing to be that if the 11.1"/17CL15VN front and 10.2" rear brakes were available as OE on a car with a 4x100mm bolt pattern, there would be very very few people running 5-lug conversions.

I also have to laugh at the people who claim that the wheel selection for 5x114.3mm is better than for 4x100mm. Have you actually tried to find an inexpensive, lightweight set of 15x7" 5x114.3mm wheels with the proper offset for a Civic?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94eg! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That's because they are all fat pigs now...</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I also have to laugh at the people who claim that the wheel selection for 5x114.3mm is better than for 4x100mm. Have you actually tried to find an inexpensive, lightweight set of 15x7" 5x114.3mm wheels with the proper offset for a Civic?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I totally agree with both of these statements.

I do, however, feel that when Honda engineered the ultimate stock civic and integra (type r), they used a 5 lug suspension for a reason. Maybe it was overkill for the weight, but I trust those guys.

 

Personally, I think the 5 lug conversion is a great mod for the larger brakes & OEM Type R wheels...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94eg! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OEM Type R wheels...</TD></TR></TABLE>
. . . are lame. 15x6"/16x6.5" are for *******

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">. . . 15x6"/16x6.5" are for ******* </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by machosos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this may be a stupid question but i was wondering what the difference was between 4 lug and 5 lug...are there any benefits??? and why do some cars use 4 lug instead of 5? thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

As stated above, all things being equal (stud material, thickness, etc...) more wheel studs will each have less load on them. However, its a moot point for most passenger cars, as whatever configuration they came with, was deemed strong enough by the manufacturer, and hub centric wheels further reduce load on the studs.

4 lug is cheaper to produce. 4 lug has less unsprung weight. If you don't need the strength of 5 lugs, then 4 is better.

5 lugs look better, to most people.

Now, with 4 lugs, don't ever drive missing a lug nut. You can usually get away with a missing nut on a 5 lug setup, for a brief time. Thats still not the best thing to do though.