Can a Trailer Wheel with Larger Center Pilot Hole Fit the Same Hub as Wheel with Smaller Pilot Hole

Updated 03/05/2015 | Published 03/04/2015

Question:

i have an old balko trailer with a 2.5 pilot hole dia. rims but it has centering lug NUTS 1/2 inch that are 4 / 4 , is it ok to put the new tires and rims on with the 2.8 pilot hole, thanks.

asked by: Joe B

Expert Reply:

Yes, since the wheels you have now attach to the hub using lug nuts you can go with a wheel that has a larger pilot hole than the previous wheels. You just can't go to a smaller pilot hole.

A wheel that attaches using lug nuts centers on the hub using those lug nuts. This is called a lug-centric wheel.

If the wheel attached with bolts then the pilot hole would have to be exact since the wheel would center on the hub via the pilot hole. This is called a hub-centric wheel.

So in short you can use a wheel with a larger pilot hole since it attaches with lug nuts.

expert reply by: Michael H