What is the Bolt Pattern on a Chevy Malibu? [Expert Answer!]

Related Articles

E3 Ignition Plugs Review: Are They Really Worth the Hype?

3 weeks ago

Harley Davidson Motorcycle Mechanic School | Quick Guide

December 8, 2022

How to Reset Check emission System Acura TSX for Beginners

December 4, 2022

Since 1964, Chevrolet’s iconic midsize Malibu has been sold in the US. Wheel diameters and the pattern of bolts used to secure them to the hub vary from generation to generation.

The bolt pattern on Generation I, II, III, and IV vehicles produced between 1964 and 1983 is 5121 mm. The lug pattern of Generation V, which was in use from 1997 until 2003, is 5x115mm.

Chevy Malibu Models from the 6th and 7th generations, produced between 2004 and 2012, had a 5x110mm design. Models from the 8th generation, such as those from 2013 to 2015, use a 5x120mm bolt pattern. In addition, all generation IX units made in 2016 and after have 5x115mm wheels.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The bolt pattern on Chevy Malibu vehicles produced between 2000 and 2003 and 2016 to the present is 5 x 4.53′′. (5x115mm).

• The Malibu’s bolt pattern was 5 x 4.33′′ (5x110mm) from 2004 to 2012.

• The Malibu featured a 5 x 4.72′′ bolt pattern from 2013 to 2015. (5x120mm).

What is the Bolt Pattern on a Chevy Malibu?

From 1964 through 1983, the Chevy Malibu’s bolt pattern was 5x121mm. Models from 1997 to 2003 and 2016 to the present feature lug nuts that are 5x115mm in size. Bolt patterns on models from 2004 to 2012 are 5110, whereas those from 2013 to 2015 are 5120. From 1997 to 2012 and 2017–2022, their thread size is M12x1.5, whereas from 2013–2016, it is M14x1.5. It has lug nuts in a variety of finishes, including chrome, black, silver, and stainless steel, as well as forms like acorn, spline, flat, and the ball seated in accordance with the shape of the hole.

But that doesn’t give you the whole answer you need. The bolt pattern for each generation is described in further detail below. Also covered are the particular lug and bolt sizes, the center bore hub’s accurate diameter, and the torque specifications for the bolts. The exact rim and tire sizes for each kind of engine are also documented. It’s critical to comprehend precisely what you can and cannot buy using this strategy.

What shall you discover on this article?

We’re going to speak about the knowledge you require in order to choose the best replacement tires or rims for your Malibu today. We’ll focus on each generation’s bolt pattern in particular.

In less than 5 minutes, this article will provide comprehensive understanding of everything  on Chevy Malibu Bolt patterns. We are confident that after reading it, you won’t need to seek for another info. Let’s find out, then!

Specifications for each generation’s wheel fitment.

You will need to be aware of more than just the bolt pattern in order to correctly install a wheel on your Malibu. All the details you need to be aware of for each generation of the Malibu are listed here. These comprise the center bore diameter, wheel tightening torque, the usage of lug nuts vs bolts, and the bolt thread size.

Additionally, we want to make it clear that all models belonging to that generation share the features given below. Of course, there are many trim levels and engine choices for the Malibu. For other models within a generation, these bolt patterns, lug sizes, and torque requirements do not alter.

To give you a clear sense of the tires you may and cannot buy, we also noted the specific tire and rim size utilized with each engine choice.

Chevy Malibu Bolt Patterns (2016 till the present)

The bolt pattern for Chevy Malibu models produced from 2016 to the present is 5 x 4.53”. (5x115mm). Additionally, the wheel’s center bore should be 70.3mm, and five lug nuts with a thread size of M12 x 1.5 should be utilized. 140Nm of torque should be used when tightening these lug nuts.

Chevy Colorado	Standard Tire Size	Rim Size
1.5 L Turbo Malibu	205/65R16	6.5Jx16 ET40 or 7Jx16 ET40 (2019 onwards).
1.8 L Malibu	225/55R17	7.5Jx17 ET45
2.0 L Turbo Malibu	245/40ZR19	8.5Jx19 ET49 or 8.5Jx19 ET41.

Specs:

Center Bore Diameter	70.3mm
Wheel Fastener	Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size	M12x1.5
Torque Spec	103.2lb-ft (140Nm)

Chevy Malibu Bolt Patterns for (2013 – 2015)

The bolt pattern on Chevy Malibu models made between 2013 and 2015 is 5 x 4.72”. (5x120mm). The wheel’s center bore should be 67.1mm, and five lug nuts with a thread size of M14 x 1.5 should be utilized. 150Nm of force should be used to tighten these lug nuts.

Chevy Colorado	Standard Tire Size	Rim Size
2.0 L Turbo Malibu	235/50R18	8Jx18 and a positive offset of 42mm
2.4 L Malibu	225/55R17	8Jx17 and a positive offset of 41mm
2.5 L Malibu	215/60R16	7.5Jx16 and a positive offset of 41mm

Specs:

Center Bore-Diameter	67.1mm
Wheel Fastener	Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size	M14x1.5
Torque Specs	110.6lb-ft (150Nm)

2004 – 2012 Models

The bolt pattern on Chevy Malibu vehicles produced between 2004 and 2012 is 5 x 4.33′′. (5x110mm). The wheel’s center bore should be 65.1mm, and five lug nuts with a thread size of M12 x 1.5 should be utilized. 140Nm of force should be used to tighten these lug nuts.

Chevy Colorado	Standard Tire Size	Rim Size
2.2L Malibu	205/65R15	6.5Jx15 ET41
2.4L Malibu	215/60R16, 215/55R17, 225/50R17, or 225/50R18	6.5Jx16 ET41, 7Jx17 ET38, 7Jx17 ET38, or 7Jx18 ET41.
3.5 L Malibu	205/65R15 or 215/60R16	6.5Jx15 ET41 for both of them.
3.6 L Malibu	225/50R17 or 225/50R18	7Jx17 ET38 or 7Jx18 ET41

Specs:

Center Bore-Diameter	65.1mm
Wheel Fastener	Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size	M12 x 1.5
Torque Specs	103.2lb-ft (140Nm)

2000 – 2003 Series

The bolt pattern on Chevy Malibu models made between 2000 and 2003 is 5 x 4.53′′. (5x115mm). In addition, the wheel’s centre bore should measure 70.3mm, and five M12 x 1.5 threaded lug nuts should be utilized. 140Nm of force should be used to tighten these lug nuts.

Chevy Colorado	Standard Tire Size	Rim Size
3.1 L Malibu	215/60R15	6Jx15 ET42

Specs:

Center Bore-Diameter	70.3mm
Wheel Fastener	Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size	M12x1.5
Torque Specs	103.2lb-ft (140Nm)

Re-tightened of Bolts

All Malibu generations, as you can see above, have a total of five lug nuts that need to be fastened. It’s crucial to tighten these lugs properly once your wheel has been replaced. The Malibu’s owner’s handbook specifies that these lug nuts should be tightened in the order seen in the figure below.

To begin, use a wheel wrench to tighten all of the nuts. Because it is reasonably priced and fits all bolt sizes for vehicles and trucks, I really enjoy this wrench on Amazon. Please be careful to only tighten them halfway; else, issues will arise.

You completely tighten them all in the following round. This will guarantee that all lug nuts are installed uniformly. The wheel lugs should be tightened to the precise Nm that was previously indicated.

Additionally, there is a good chance that your wheel has a central cap or cover. This has to be tightened as well once you’ve tightened all the bolts. All five plastic caps should be hand-tightened to a secure fit before being further one-quarter turned with the wheel wrench.

After travelling for 30 miles, you should do one more safety check (48 kilometers). Verify that the correct amount of pressure is still being given to each lug nut and that they are all still fastened securely. If not, tighten the nuts once again, then inspect them once more after travelling the same distance.

Tire rotation or replacement of Chevy Malibu

It’s crucial to understand when to rotate and replace tires if you plan to get your tires replaced. The thread wear signs shown in the figure below should be visible whenever a tire has to be changed. This occurs when the thread on the tires is down to 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or below. This indicates that the majority of the Chevy Malibu’s tires will need to be replaced every 4-5 years, or every 60,000–75,000 miles.

When rotating them is another time when you’ll need to remove the lug nuts from the wheels or when you need to replace tires. The Chevy Malibu’s owner’s handbook specifies that tires need to be changed every 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers). Additionally, it is advisable that you rotate the tires exactly as it is depicted in the picture below. You flip sides and transfer the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front.

Often Asked Questions on Chevy Malibu Bolt Patterns

Q) What other automobiles share the Chevy Malibu's bolt pattern?

A: You will discover that your automobile is compatible with the majority of compact and medium vehicles, including sedans and SUVs, since they all have a 5 bolt pattern. Oldsmobile Omega, Buick Riviera, GMC Envoy, Chevy Caprice, and Chevy Chevelle are a few examples of other automobiles with a 5121 lug nut pattern. In addition, the lug nut standards for the Cadillac Catera, Dodge Dart, Jeep Compass, and Chevy Cobalt are 5110. Chevy Venture, Dodge Magnum, Buick Century, Dodge Challenger, Chevy TrailBlazer, and Oldsmobile Aurora are examples of models with a 5115 mm pattern. As a result, you may swap out its wheels for those on these identically designed cars.

Q) Does the Chevy Malibu's bolt pattern remain the same across all body types?

A: Depending on the model year, it comes as a coupe, hatchback, station waggon, and saloon among other body types. Within a single generation, all body types share the same design. They therefore have interchangeable, compatible wheels. The 2005 edition of the automobile is an outlier, though, since it comes in both a Classic and more modern body design. While the improved body style of the 6th generation for that year has a 5110 mm design, the Classic style of generation V has a bolt pattern of 5115 mm.

Q) What does a Chevy 5 lug bolt pattern mean?

A:The Chevy five-bolt pattern, for instance, has five lug holes. When a pattern is described as 5-100 mm, it signifies that there are five lugs and that the circle has a diameter of 100 mm. Larger automobiles frequently have more lugs, whilst smaller ones typically have less.

Related:

Are All Chevy 6 Lugs the Same? Chevy Bolt Pattern Explained

Chevy Colorado Bolt Pattern [All Models Explained]

What Bolt Pattern is a Chevy 2500 [Skillfully Defined]

Disclaimer:

The content on this website is meant only for general information purpose and does not and shall not be construed as any solicitation, procurement, display, aggregation, marketing or advertisement of products. AutoLawNow.com is not an intermediary and hence does not endorse or solicit any such products. The information on this website is derived from publicly available sources and AutoLawNow.com cannot verify or confirm the genuineness, truth, veracity or authenticity of this information.

Display of any trademarks, tradenames, logos and other subject matters of intellectual property belong to their respective intellectual property owners. Display of such IP along with the related product information does not imply AutoLawNow.com ‘s partnership with the owner of the Intellectual Property or issuer/manufacturer of such products.

Sources:

wheel-size.com

my.chevrolet.com