2002-07 WRX (GD) › Guide
2002-07 WRX and STI bolt pattern: 5x100 vs 5x114.3, which years, and how to convert
Short answer: Every US-market 2002-2007 Impreza WRX (bugeye, blobeye and hawkeye) and the 2004 STI use 5x100. Only the 2005-2007 STI uses 5x114.3. All of them share a 56.1 mm hub bore and M12x1.25 studs, so the bore does not tell you which wheels fit. To run 5x114.3 wheels on a 5x100 GD you either swap to 2005-07 STI hubs (the OEM route) or use hub-centric adapters.
Quick reference: GD bolt pattern by year and trim
| Car (US market) | Bolt pattern | Hub bore | Studs | Factory wheel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-2005 WRX (bugeye, blobeye) | 5x100 | 56.1 mm | M12x1.25 | 16x6.5 +53 |
| 2006-2007 WRX (hawkeye) | 5x100 | 56.1 mm | M12x1.25 | 17x7 +55 |
| 2004 STI | 5x100 | 56.1 mm | M12x1.25 | 17x7.5 +53 |
| 2005-2007 STI | 5x114.3 | 56.1 mm | M12x1.25 | 17x8 +53 |
The 2004 STI is the odd one out: it was the first US STI and shared the WRX's 5x100 pattern. Subaru moved the STI to 5x114.3 for 2005 along with stronger hubs and bearings, while the WRX kept 5x100. That leaves two incompatible "GD STI wheel" patterns on the used market, so always confirm the donor car's year. Some quick-reference tables online list every GD STI as 5x114.3; that is wrong for the 2004 car.
Why the hub bore does not settle it
Every GD, in both patterns, centers the wheel on a 56.1 mm hub and uses M12x1.25 studs. A wheel that "fits the hub" can still be the wrong pattern. Aftermarket wheels are usually bored larger to fit many cars, so they need 56.1 mm hub-centric rings, and you need lug nuts that match the wheel's seat type (Subaru factory nuts are conical). Cars get modified, so do not trust the title or listing: measure the studs on the hub.
How to measure a five-stud pattern
No two studs on a five-stud hub sit directly opposite each other, so measure from the center of one stud to the center of the second stud along (skip the one in between). That distance is about 0.95 times the bolt-circle diameter: roughly 95 mm for 5x100 and 109 mm for 5x114.3. The difference is over a centimeter, so a tape measure is enough.
Running 5x114.3 wheels on a 5x100 GD: your three options
- Stay on 5x100. The cheapest and simplest route. 2004 STI wheels, BRZ/86-pattern aftermarket wheels (5x100, 56.1 mm) and other 5x100 Subaru wheels bolt on; check offset, width and brake clearance. See the answers for 2004 STI wheels and BRZ/86-pattern wheels.
- 2005-07 STI hub conversion (OEM parts). Swaps the front knuckles and hub units (with matching struts) and the rear hubs and bearings for 5x114.3 STI parts. More work and parts hunting, but no extra joint and no change in wheel offset. Owner and forum sources only; safety-critical. See the hub conversion answer.
- Hub-centric adapters (15-25 mm). Bolt on in an afternoon, but push the wheel out by their thickness (a 20 mm adapter turns a +53 wheel into an effective +33), add a second set of nuts to torque and re-check, and the thinnest ones need wheels with stud pockets. See the adapter answer.
Wheels from later Subarus
2015-21 VA WRX wheels are 5x114.3, so they do not bolt to a GD without one of the conversions above (VA wheels answer). For 2008-14 WRX wheels our sources disagree: one guide lists every 2008-14 WRX as 5x100, while a wheel retailer says the 2008+ cars moved to 5x114.3. We flag this as a conflict on the GR WRX wheels answer; measure the donor wheels before buying.
Fitment answers covered by this guide
FAQ
What is the bolt pattern of a 2002-2007 Subaru WRX?
5x100 (five studs on a 100 mm circle) for every model year, with a 56.1 mm center bore and M12x1.25 studs. Factory wheels were 16x6.5 +53 on 2002-05 cars and 17x7 +55 on 2006-07 cars.
Did the 2005 WRX switch to 5x114.3?
No. The switch in 2005 was the STI only. The WRX stayed on 5x100 through 2007. Posts and listings that say the 2005 WRX changed are mixing the two up.
Do 2005-2007 STI wheels fit a GD WRX or a 2004 STI?
Not directly: they are 5x114.3 and the WRX and 2004 STI hubs are 5x100. You need either the 2005-07 STI hub conversion or 5x100-to-5x114.3 adapters. Spacers alone do not change the bolt pattern.
Do 2004 STI wheels fit a WRX?
The bolt pattern and hub bore match (5x100, 56.1 mm), so they bolt on. The 2004 STI wheel is 17x7.5 +53. Sources do not confirm tire or brake clearance on every WRX, so check before you buy.
Are 5x100 to 5x114.3 adapters safe?
Quality hub-centric adapters from a known maker, torqued correctly and re-checked, are widely used. They push the wheel out by their thickness, add a second bolted joint and load the wheel bearing further outboard, and thin 15 mm ones need wheels with stud pockets. Cheap non-hub-centric adapters are not worth the risk. This is safety-critical; have the install checked.
What does the STI 5x114.3 hub conversion involve?
Front 2005-07 STI knuckles with their bolt-in hub units and matching front struts, STI 5x114.3 rear hubs and bearings pressed into the existing rear knuckles, plus rotors, dust shields and a 5x114.3 spare. Check front axle seating; some owners needed a CV spacer. See the hub conversion answer.
How do I check which bolt pattern my car has?
Pull a wheel and measure the hub studs, not the wheel: measure center to center from one stud to the second stud along (skip one). About 95 mm means 5x100; about 109 mm means 5x114.3.
Keep exploring
- Subaru WRX (GD/GG, 2002-2007): all fitment answers · common problems
- Miata NA/NB hardtop fitment guide: NA vs NB, OEM vs aftermarket, latches and seals
- Newsletter archive (past issues)
Sources
- WRX & STI Wheel Fitment by Era: 5x100 Bugeye to 5x114.3 VA — ThreePiece.us (wheel retailer blog) (vendor article; read 2026-10-21; full page read)
- Subaru WRX Bolt Pattern by Year: 5x100 vs 5x114.3, Hub Bore & Lug Specs — WRX Parts (guide site, updated Aug 2026) (editorial; read 2026-10-22; full page read)
- Tech Tips: 2004-2018 Subaru STI (factory wheel specs) — STM Tuned (performance shop) (vendor article; read 2026-10-22; search excerpt only)
- 2004-2007 Subaru STI Wheels & Accessories (factory sizing and bolt-pattern change) — RallySport Direct (retailer) (vendor article; read 2026-10-22; search excerpt only)
- Subaru WRX and STI Wheel Information — FastWRX.com (Mach V Motorsports, Subaru parts retailer) (vendor article; read 2026-10-21; full page read)
- 2004 STi 5x100 to 5x114.3 Hub Conversion Info Inside — NASIOC forum (owner parts list with OEM part numbers, 2013, edited 2025) (forum thread; read 2026-10-22; full page read)
- PERRIN 5x100 to 5x114.3 20mm Wheel Adapters — RallySport Direct (retailer product page) (vendor article; read 2026-10-22; search excerpt only)
- ISC Suspension 5x100 to 5x114 15mm Wheel Adapters — RallySport Direct (retailer product page) (vendor article; read 2026-10-22; search excerpt only)
Summaries are in our own words. Fitment is not guaranteed; wheels, hubs and suspension are safety-critical. Disclaimer.
Report a correction — spotted an error or have a better source? Email hello@chassisdex.com.