How To Measure ATV and Go-Kart Rims

How To Determine ATV and Go-Kart Rim / Wheel Size

We often get the question, “What size are the wheels on my atv?”  Let’s see if we can answer your question. 

We to think of tire sizes in standard inches, but the Chinese are using metric measurements.  Translating to an inches measurement is a little fuzzy but we will come as close as possible when determining diameter and width.  Other measurements are in millimeters.

Let’s start with the diameter.  In our listing we often have an overall diameter measurement for the rim, but that won’t be the size tire you mount on the rim.  To get the “tire size diameter” of the rim, you have to measure from the bead seat on one side to the bead seat on the other.  Your tire doesn’t mount on the outside of the rim, it mounts on the bead seats.  In the case of the wheel pictured, you can see that the rim measures 10”.  This will also be the third number in the tire size. 

The same is true with the width.  The width is not the overall width of the rim, but the distance from bead seat to bead seat.  You can also measure from the inside of the lip to the other inside of the lip. This wheel pictured has a width of 7.5”.  This measurement tends to be not very precise.

Let’s move on to bolt holes and bolt patterns.  Most Chinese atvs mount using 3 or 4 bolts.  If you could image a circle running thru the center of each bolt hole, either on the 3 or the 4 holes rims, the diameter of that circle, in millimeters, is the measurement.  Many go-karts use a “4x110” rim meaning that the rim has 4 bolt holes with a diameter of 110 millimeters.  It’s pretty easy to measure the diameter of the circle on 4 bolt rims... you just measure from the center of one hole to the center of the hole opposite.  3 hole rims are a little trickier to figure out.  So for 3-hole rims we will give you the measurement from one hole to the next.  Here’s a trick that applies to both 3 and 4 hole rims... if you can’t get a tape measure down in the rim, then measure the distance, center-to-center, between the studs on the wheel hub.  The number will be the same.  

The center hole is also measured in millimeters.  It’s often hard to get a tape measure inside the rim to measure the inside diameter of the hole.  Try measuring the outside diameter of the hub that fits in the hole.  The measurement will be close. 

Almost all Chinese atvs and go-karts use either an 8mm or 10mm wheel bolt or stud.  The 8mm stud is equal to around 3/10 of an inch where as the 10mm stud is about 4/10 of an inch.  If your still having trouble determining the stud size, take the hub to a parts store and have them measure it for you.  It might require them using a 8mm or 10mm nut to see which one threads on. 

Offset.  Plainly speaking the offset is the distance from the center weld to the inside of the rim, followed by the distance from the center weld to the outside of the rim.  The measurement is expressed as two numbers with a plus sign in-between.  If you see 4+3.5, that means that the inside of the rim from the weld to the bead seat is 4 inches, and the distance from the center weld to the outside bead seat is 3.5 inches as shown in the picture above.

Finally...  aluminum wheels are not very accurate in their bead measurements.  So use some discretion.    

I hope this helps.  If you still require assistance, please call VMC customer service at 618-529-2593 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm on Mondays, or 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Tuesday thru Friday.