Subaru Lug Pattern Guide

Let’s examine the Subaru lug patterns
Written by Matt Terzi
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Subaru lug patterns include 5x3.94” and 5x4.5”. You’ll need to know the exact measurements of your tire to know which pattern to go with for sure.
Subarus are revered for their reliability, comfort, and their prowess at tackling snowy roads. And whether you’re slapping a fresh pair of performance Pirellis on your
WRX
or prepping for some offroad adventures in your
Outback
, you’ll want to know your Subaru’s lug pattern if you hope to swap out those wheels yourself.
Jerry
, the trustworthy insurance comparison app, is here to do more than help you lower your
Subaru car insurance costs
. We’re also putting together this
car repair
guide to help you find your Subaru lug pattern. So let’s get to it!

Why you should know your Subaru’s lug pattern

A lug pattern—also referred to as a bolt pattern—indicates the number of lug nuts on a car’s wheel and the spacing between those lug nuts. It’s made up of two numbers, the first indicating how many lug nuts the wheel has, and the second noting the diameter of a box or circle running between them.
Most modern cars have four to six lug nuts, with five being the most common. Subarus all have five lugs. But the diameter of the imaginary circle between those lugs boils down to the model of the vehicle. In a Subaru, it’s always either 3.94” or 4.5”.

Subaru lug pattern guide

Let’s take a look at some Subaru lug pattern data. This will include the wheel size, lug pattern, offset, stud size, and hub/center bore size. All of this information can prove useful when you’re searching for new replacement rims.
Model
OEM wheel size
Lug pattern (inches)
Offset
Stud size
Hub/center bore
1999-2018
Subaru Forester
15"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2019-2021 Subaru Forester
17"-19"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2000-2013
Subaru Outback
15"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2014-2022 Subaru Outback
17"-22"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
15"-20"
5x3.94"
--
12x1.25
56.1
17"-19"
5x3.94"
--
12x1.25
56.1
16"-20"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
16"-20"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
1999-2021
Subaru Impreza
15"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
17"-20"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
16"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
17"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2005-2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
17"-20"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2019-2022
Subaru Ascent
18"-20"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2015-2021
Subaru WRX
17"-19"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2015-2020
Subaru WRX STI
19"-20"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
1999-2014
Subaru Legacy
14"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2015-2022 Subaru Legacy
16"-20"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2013-2020
Subaru BRZ
17"-19"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2006-2014
Subaru Tribeca
17"-22"
5x4.50"
H
12x1.25
56.1
2003-2006
Subaru Baja
16"-18"
5x3.94"
H
12x1.25
56.1
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Lug pattern terminology 101

Okay, wait … that’s a lot of numbers. And apart from that one enthusiastic math teacher you had in the ninth grade who drank way too much coffee before talking about fractions, no one really gets excited by the potential for math.
The good news? You don’t need the dust off that scientific calculator, you just need to learn some important lug lingo!
OEM wheel size: OEM, or “original equipment manufacturer”, is a fancy way of saying something is made by the company specifically for the model. The OEM wheels are the wheels that originally came with your Subaru.
Lug pattern: Also referred to as a bolt pattern, the lug pattern denotes the number of lugs used and the spacial size of the diameter they form.
Offset: The distance between the wheel’s mounting surface and the very center of the wheel’s rim is called the “offset”. You might hear the phrase “positive offset,” meaning the wheels sit closer to the car, while negative means they’re further away.
Stud size: In a Subaru, these are shown as stud diameter in millimeters x the distance between the threads. In a Subaru, it’s 12mm x 1.25.
Center bore: The center bore of a wheel is the opening in the middle of the wheel on the hub. Subarus universally use a 56.1 center bore.

How to measure your Subaru’s lug pattern

Nearly every Subaru on the road today is mentioned above, but if yours isn’t, you can still find your lug pattern with a little help from a measuring tape or ruler with metric measurements.
Step one is easy: simply count how many lugs there are. But Subarus have always used five, so no worries there. 
Next, you’ll want to measure the diameter of the lug pattern. You’ll do this by starting at the outer edge of any lug and measuring directly across to the lug opposite, ending in the middle of that lug.
Did you count five lug nuts and a diameter of 3.94”? That’s your lug pattern: 5x3.94.

How to find affordable insurance for your Subie

Now that you know how to find your Subaru’s lug pattern, finding replacing wheels should be a lot easier. But finding cheap
car insurance
for your Subie? That’s harder. Well, unless you’re using
Jerry
, that is!
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With average savings of over $800 per year, millions of users have made Jerry America’s #1 top-rated insurance app. That you can find those savings in under a minute, sign up without making a single phone call, and have access to world-class customer support if you need help? All of that is just icing on the cake.
“After signing up with
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, I went from $199/month to $97/month for my car insurance. My 2019 Subaru Forester now has full coverage for a great price!” —Rhonda H.
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FAQs

No, but they’re close! Subarus universally use 5x3.94” or 5x4.5” patterns. It will be one or the other, but different models, and even different trim levels, use different bolt or lug patterns.
Yes! These two phrases are interchangeable and both refer to the same thing: the pattern of lugs holding the wheel to the car.
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