Short answer: 5x100 means five bolts spaced evenly on a circle 100mm across. It is the older VW Group pattern, found on the Golf Mk4, Polo, Audi A3 8L, TT Mk1, Fabia, Ibiza and Leon Mk1, plus a great many Subarus and Toyotas. It is not interchangeable with 5x112. Twelve millimetres is far too much to force, and the centre bore differs too: 57.1mm on VW Group, 56.1mm on Subaru, 54.1mm on Toyota.
This is the pattern that gets people into trouble on marketplace listings. A set of wheels is described as fitting a Golf, the buyer has a Golf, and the wheels turn up off a Mk7 in 5x112 while the car is a Mk4 in 5x100. Same badge, same model name, completely different hub.
We have a full 5x112 guide, a 5x120 guide and a 5x108 guide for Ford. This is the one for 5x100.
What 5x100 means
Five bolt holes, on an imaginary circle 100mm in diameter, measured through the centre of the holes. That circle is the PCD, or pitch circle diameter.
With five holes the circle is awkward to measure, because no two holes sit directly opposite each other. Measure from the centre of one hole to the centre of the hole two along and you should get roughly 95mm on a 5x100. The method is set out properly in how to measure PCD, and if you are not sure what you have at all, start with what is PCD and how do I find mine.
Which cars use 5x100
| Make | Models | Centre bore |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | Golf Mk4, Bora, Polo, Lupo, Beetle | 57.1mm |
| Audi | A3 8L, TT Mk1 8N, A2 | 57.1mm |
| Skoda | Fabia, Octavia Mk1, Roomster | 57.1mm |
| SEAT | Ibiza, Cordoba, Leon Mk1, Toledo Mk2 | 57.1mm |
| Subaru | Impreza, Forester, Legacy, many years | 56.1mm |
| Toyota | Corolla, Prius, Celica, GT86 | 54.1mm |
Treat that as the shortlist rather than the final word. Manufacturers changed pattern mid-model-run more than once, and higher performance versions sometimes differ from the base car. Send us your make, model and year and we will confirm it rather than you guessing from a table.
5x100 or 5x112: the VW Group changeover
This is the single most useful thing to know if you are in the VW world.
The older generation of cars ran 5x100. Roughly from the mid 2000s the newer platforms moved to 5x112, which is what almost everything modern uses. So a Golf Mk4 is 5x100 and a Golf Mk5 onwards is 5x112. An Audi A3 8L is 5x100 and the 8P that replaced it is 5x112.
The Polo is the one that stayed. It has remained 5x100 across generations long after its bigger siblings moved on, which is why Polo owners cannot use the enormous pool of 5x112 wheels that fit everything else in the range.
Twelve millimetres of difference is not something that can be persuaded. The holes do not line up, and anyone suggesting you open them out with a drill is telling you to ruin a wheel. The bolt holes are load bearing, machined to a specific seat angle, and enlarging them removes the material that holds your car on.
The three centre bores
Same bolt pattern, three different hub sizes, and this is where cross-brand shopping comes unstuck.
The centre bore is the hole in the middle of the wheel, and the raised spigot on your hub locates into it. That spigot, not the bolts, is what carries the weight of the car and keeps the wheel running true.
A wheel with a larger bore than your hub can be used with spigot rings, which are cheap plastic or alloy collars that take up the difference. A wheel with a smaller bore than your hub cannot be used at all, because it will not go on.
So a Subaru wheel at 56.1mm will not fit a VW hub needing 57.1mm. The other way round, a 57.1mm VW wheel on a Subaru hub works with a ring. We include rings free with every set that needs them, and the full explanation is in do I need spigot rings.
Sensible sizes for a 5x100 car
Almost everything on 5x100 is a small or medium car, which shapes what works.
- 17 inch is the sweet spot for a Polo, Fabia, Ibiza or Lupo. Fills the arch properly and keeps enough sidewall for Irish and UK roads.
- 18 inch suits a Golf Mk4, A3 8L, TT Mk1 or Leon Mk1, and is about as far as most of these cars want to go.
- Offset generally lands around ET35 to ET45 on the VW Group cars. Going much lower pushes the wheel out past the arch.
- Width of 7 to 8 inches covers nearly all of it, with 205 to 225 section tyres. The widths and tyre sizes are matched up in what tyre width fits your rim.
Load rating is rarely the constraint it is on a van or an SUV, because these cars are light. It is still worth a look at the stamp on the back, which is covered in what the stamps on the back of your alloy wheel actually mean.
Can you run 5x112 wheels with adapters?
Yes, technically. A PCD adapter bolts to your 5x100 hub and presents a 5x112 face for the wheel, and it opens up a far bigger choice of wheels.
The honest caveat is that every adapter adds width, usually 15 to 20mm minimum, because it has to be thick enough to carry its own bolts. On a small car with limited arch clearance that is a significant change to track and to how the wheel sits. They also add another joint to keep an eye on and re-torque.
Our view is that adapters make sense on a specific build with a wheel you cannot otherwise get, and rarely make sense simply to widen the shopping list. The trade-offs are set out in PCD adapters explained. If you do fit them, re-torque after 50 miles as covered in the wheel bolt torque guide.
5x100 wheels in stock
- 17x7.5" GTi Style, Black Machined — from £132.50
- 17x7.5" Volkswagen Style, Silver — from £146.50
- 18x8" Audi RS6 C Style, Black Machined — from £140
- 18x8" RS6 Style, Gloss Black — from £140
- 18x8" 2022 Audi S8 Style, Black Machined — from £140
The full 5x100 collection runs to over a hundred wheels. You can also browse by size in 17 inch and 18 inch, or by marque in Volkswagen style, Audi style, Skoda style and SEAT style. Need just one? See the single wheel replacement range.
Questions we get asked
What cars have a 5x100 bolt pattern?
Mainly the older VW Group cars: Golf Mk4, Bora, Polo, Lupo, Beetle, Audi A3 8L, TT Mk1 and A2, Skoda Fabia, Octavia Mk1 and Roomster, SEAT Ibiza, Cordoba, Leon Mk1 and Toledo Mk2. Many Subaru models including Impreza, Forester and Legacy also use it, as do Toyota models such as the Corolla, Prius, Celica and GT86.
Will 5x112 wheels fit a 5x100 car?
No. The bolt holes sit on a circle 12mm larger, so they do not line up and the wheel cannot be bolted on. Drilling the holes out is not an option, because they are load bearing and machined to a specific seat angle. A PCD adapter is the only way to run 5x112 wheels on a 5x100 hub.
Is a Golf Mk4 5x100 or 5x112?
The Golf Mk4 is 5x100 with a 57.1mm centre bore. The Mk5 and every Golf after it moved to 5x112, which is why Mk4 owners cannot use the much larger pool of modern VW Group wheels.
What centre bore do 5x100 wheels use?
It depends on the make. VW, Audi, Skoda and SEAT use 57.1mm, Subaru uses 56.1mm and Toyota uses 54.1mm. A wheel with a larger bore than the hub can run with spigot rings, but a wheel with a smaller bore will not fit the hub at all.
Is a VW Polo 5x100?
Yes. The Polo has stayed on 5x100 across generations while larger VW Group models moved to 5x112, so Polo owners need wheels specific to the 5x100 pattern.
What size alloy wheels suit a 5x100 car?
Typically 17 inch on a Polo, Fabia or Ibiza and 18 inch on a Golf Mk4, A3 8L or Leon Mk1, in widths of 7 to 8 inches with 205 to 225 section tyres. Offset usually falls between ET35 and ET45 on the VW Group cars.
Are 5x100 and 5x114.3 the same?
No. 5x114.3 is a common Japanese and American pattern more than 14mm larger across the bolt circle, and the two are not interchangeable in either direction.
Not certain which pattern your car has? Send the make, model and year to sales@omiwheels.com or WhatsApp +44 7753 828059 and we will confirm the bolt pattern, centre bore and the offset range that fits before you order. We ship from Northern Ireland, so there are no customs charges or import VAT into Ireland or mainland Europe.