How Many Lugs On A Chevy Silverado? [Bolt Patterns Explained]

If you own a Chevrolet Silverado, you know that you have an American classic. When you buy new tires, you will need to know how many lug nuts and what bolt pattern your Chevy Silverado requires.

The Chevy Silverado uses different bolt patterns and the number of lug nuts by model. Here are the specifications for Chevy Silverados manufactured from 1999 to 2022:

  • Silverado 1500 pickup truck - six lug nuts in a 6x139.7  bolt pattern
  • The Silverado 2500 Heavy Duty pickup truck - eight lug nuts in an 8x180 bolt pattern
  • Silverado 3500 HD -  eight lug nuts in an 8x180 bolt pattern

Keep reading to learn more about bolt patterns and lugs nuts for your Chevy Silverado. The research is ready for you. See what the numbers can tell you.

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How Many Lugs Does a Chevy Silverado Have?

The 1999-2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup trucks use six lug nuts. The Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD have eight lug nuts. The pickup trucks from 1971 to 1999 sometimes had five lug nut bolt patterns.

A Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at dealership

What Lug Pattern is a Six Lug Chevy Silverado?

The lug or bolt pattern for a six lug Chevy Silverado is a 6x139.7 bolt pattern. The six bolts are across from each other in an equal distant pattern to give stability to the wheel.

What Does 6x139.7 Mean on a Wheel?

The 6x139.7 bolt pattern tells you that the six bolt holes are on a 139.7 mm diameter invisible circle. The United States uses the Imperial measurement system [inches, feet]. The bolt pattern would be 6x5.5 inches in this system. The wheel is measured using the Metric System [millimeters, meters] so that the rest of the world understands the measurements.

What are the Lugs on a Truck?

Lugs are the automotive name for the nuts that screw the tire onto the threaded bolt on the wheel. You tighten the lug nut on the wheel bolt to secure the tire to the wheel on the vehicle. The Chevy Silverado uses lug nuts that screw onto wheel bolts.

What Does Lug Means?

The word "lug" comes from a Scandinavian word for "moving slowly or heavily." Lug nuts are solid nuts that "move slowly" to unscrew. They give a secure fit on the bolt.

What is a Lug Bolt?

A lug bolt is a threaded screw made as one piece with the head. A wheel that requires lug bolts can be more challenging to change. You must hold the tire and thread the lug bolt into the socket to tighten it. High-end European manufacturers often use lug bolts on their vehicles. 

Click here to see lug bolts on Amazon.com.

What Kind of Lug Nuts Are on a Chevy Silverado?

 The modern Chevy Silverado requires using the acorn design [tapered] lug nut with a 14 mm x 1.5 mm thread. You tighten them with a 22 mm hex socket wrench using 190 Newton Meter [140 lb-ft] of torque.

Click here to see a 22mm hex socket on Amazon.

What is the Difference Between a Lug Nut and Wheel Bolt?

Lug nuts screw onto wheel bolts to secure the tire to the wheel. When you change the tire, you can rest the tire on the wheel bolts to begin. Then you screw the lug nut onto the bolt. You press up to center the tire for the last bits of tightening the lug nuts.

Three Types of Lug Nuts

Automotive manufacturers design their trucks to use one of the three types of lug nuts with their wheel bolts. You should use the correct nut for the hole, so the fit is tight on the wheel bolt. Here are the three types of lug nuts:

  • Acorn Lug Nut - Tapered edge
  • Flange Lug Nut - Flat edge
  • Ball Lug Nut - Rounded edge

What are Wheel Studs?

Wheel studs are another name for wheel bolts. The lug nut threads onto the wheel stud or wheel bolt, connecting the tire to the wheel. The lug nut tightens down the connection.

What are Wheel Spikes?

Wheel spikes fit over the lug nut to keep it clean. The tapered end lets dirt, water, and mud flow away from the lug nuts. Some aftermarket wheel spikes are designed with the lug nut built-in as one piece.  

Click here to see these wheel spikes on Amazon.com.

Can I Use Wheel Spikes on a Chevy Silverado?

Yes, you can buy wheel spikes that fit over the lug nuts of your 1999-2022 Chevy Silverado. Or you can purchase aftermarket wheel spike lug nuts to use on your truck.

What is a Wheel Lock?

Wheel locks are lug nuts that require a special tool called a key to unlock them. They are used to keep people from stealing the tire or rim. People who put expensive alloy rims on their trucks may use the wheel lock to protect the rims.

Does the Chevy Silverado have Wheel Locks?

Chevrolet does not use wheel locks as standard equipment on their  Silverados. You can buy wheel locks for your Silverado at most auto supply shops.

What Lug Pattern is on a Chevy Silverado?

A red Chevrolet Silverado photographed at a parking lot

The Chevy Silverado has either a six lug or eight-lug pattern. The bigger and heavier the truck, the more lugs it will have. A truck tire with more lugs has more connection to the wheel rim. More lugs matter when a truck carries a heavy load or pulls a trailer.

What Lug Pattern is on the Chevy Silverado 1500?

The Chevy Silverado 1500 has a 6x139.7 lug pattern. Six lugs on the wheel bolts on a circle with 139.7 mm diameter. This is often called a Six Lug Pattern or a Six Bolt Pattern.

What Lug Patter is on the Chevy Silverado HD 2500?

The durable Chevy Silverado Heavy Duty 2500 uses an 8x180 lug pattern. Eight lugs on the wheel bolts in a 180 mm diameter circle on the wheel rim. The additional lugs help with tire safety.

What Lug Pattern is on the Chevy Silverado HD 3500?

The heaviest pickup truck in the Chevy Silverado model line uses an 8x180 lug pattern. The eight-lug nuts secure the tire to the wheel bolts in a 180 mm diameter circle on the wheel rim.

Are all Chevy Six Lugs the Same Pattern?

Yes, Chevy uses the same six lug bolt pattern for all their Silverado 1500 pickup trucks. If you have a Silverado from 1999 to 2022, the bolt pattern is standard for the six lug and eight-lug bolt patterns.

Are All Six Lugs the Same Pattern on All Trucks?

No, depending on the automotive manufacturer, lug patterns are sometimes measured on different diameters. Most auto companies standardize the bolt patterns, but this may change for different model years. Chevy used a standard bolt pattern for its trucks from 1999 to 2022.

Click here to see these lug nuts at Amazon.com.

What is the Different Between a Lug Pattern and a Wheel Bolt Pattern?

A lug pattern, lug nut pattern, and wheel bolt pattern are all the same. They describe the arrangement of bolt holes on a wheel. Automotive manufacturers will use different terms.

How Do I Find the Wheel Bolt Pattern?

You can measure the wheel bolt pattern by measuring the diameter of the bolt hole circle. Here is how you measure this for:

  • Even number of bolts - Measure from the center of one bolt hole to the center of the opposite bolt hole.
  • Odd number of bolts - Measure from the center of one bolt hole to the outer edge of an opposite bolt hole.

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How to Measure a 6 Lug Pattern

You measure a six-lug nut pattern by measuring from the center of one lug nut hole to the center of the opposite lug nut hold. This will give you the diameter of the lug nut or bolt hole pattern. 

How Do I Know What Bolt Pattern Was Original?

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 displayed at Chevrolet car show

Check the Original Equipment [OE] for your model to confirm what type of bolt pattern the wheels were designed to take. You can find many manuals online, or your dealer should be able to track down a digital file of a past vehicle's Manual.

What are Dual Drilled Bolt Patterns?

A heavier truck might have a dual-drilled wheel. This pattern allows two different bolt arrangments to be used. Some people call a dual-drilled wheel a dual-bolt pattern. 

Does a Chevy Silverado have a Dual Drilled Wheel?

No, the Chevy Silverado does not use a dual-drilled wheel. Some aftermarket wheels may have this option for those who will be using their Silverado HD 3500 for heavy pulling or hauling.

In Conclusion

A red Chevrolet Silverado displayed at a car show

The Chevy Silverado requires using the correct lug nuts in the six or eight bolt pattern on your pickup truck. Having the right tires on your truck will keep you driving safely and enjoying the freedom of the roads. 

Keep reading to learn more about the Chevy Silverado.

What Pickup Trucks have a 6x5.5 Bolt Pattern?

What are the Biggest Tires You Can Put on Your Chevy Silverado?

12 Chevy Silverado Fender Flares You Have to Check Out

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