Technical Most Common Wheel Bolt Pattern during Our Era?

Chrysler in the '50s used 14" and 15" wheels in a 5 by 5.5" bolt pattern and they will fit over a 12" brake in the 14" rim size. Desoto use a 5 by 5" bolt pattern in the late '30s. Chevy used a 4 by 4.5 on some models in the early 30s.

 

That is covered by Murphy's Law I think.

My current project is all 5 on 4.75. Yes by far the most common wheel on the market. Took me two weeks to find 15x8 inch steel wheels. I did find lots of desirable 5 on 5.5 wheels. Many actually affordable.

There is a special place in hell for Murphy.

 

Hello,

During the time period of 1955 through 1965 wheel swapping was a thing to do for us teenagers. It was a lot less expensive for our group of drivers to swap rims and wheels on each other’s cars. It just so happens the brand of cars was from Chevy. My brother’s friends had more varied variety of sedans and coupes. But for some reason, our time as teenagers was almost 80% Chevy sedans that could be interchanged with each other.

Sure there were old Ford sedans and several non Chevy sedans on the teenage scene. But, they were a very small group within the whole teenage car scene during our time in high school. A single Pontiac from the 50s, a new Pontiac hardtop sedan and a couple of odd ball Fords, like a sedan delivery with Ford bolt patterns. No one could switch rims and tires with those different cars unless they were actually the same or similar size to fit the rims.

Jnaki

At least my brother’s group started the exchange of wheels and tires if possible, but I remember being the hubcap exchange person as a young “gofer” when the older teenagers sat back and watch me take off/put on the hubcaps of those cars.

Some oddball cars in that group... 34 Ford Coupe, 51 Olds, 37 Chevy , 56 Chevy, then 58 Impala, and one Plymouth.

When we started driving, now, the whole bolt pattern of the Chevy sedans was swappable and that is what was fun. Chrome reverse rims were the most wanted and they got swapped for a few minutes of admiration. The hydraulic jack was a wonderful implement to ease the exchanges. One guy had mag wheels and that was the next choice of swaps.

It was a fun thing as most of us wanted chromed reversed rims and/or the new mag wheels on the market. But times were tough for extra money and it was just as much fun doing the swaps, if only for an afternoon or two. YRMV