The Camaro has been Chevrolet’s answer to high-performance driving for decades, and it has only gotten a lot better ever since.
Going directly toe-to-toe with the likes of the Ford Mustang from the original “pony car” era in the 60s, the Camaro nameplate doesn’t need any further introduction in this day and age.
While enthusiasts can debate about whether or not the new models count as true muscle cars, we’re going to turn our attention to the Chevy Camaro’s lug pattern for this article instead.
We’ve also thrown in a ton of info about other necessary lug and wheel specifications, so this guide will be perfect for when you’re unsure if a certain set of wheels can fit your Camaro.
The Camaro also went through a lot of generations and facelifts that changed such specifications, and you’ll be seeing how they differ in terms of specifications further down.
So whether you own a Camaro yourself or are just curious about it because of a certain yellow robot from space, then continue on with your reading.
What is the lug pattern of a Chevy Camaro?
Chevy Camaro models made from 2010 to the current model year (2022) are all fitted with a lug pattern of 5×4.72 inches (5x120mm).
All Chevy Camaro models made from 1967 to 2002 were fitted with the same 5×4.75-inch (5×120.65mm) lug pattern.
Even though the Chevy Camaro has undergone a lot of iterations throughout its production run, there are only two different lug patterns ever used for the model.
The older Camaro generations from 1967 to 2002 had a slightly bigger lug pattern in terms of the diameter that the lugs formed.
However, every single generation of the Camaro used the same number of lugs, which is denoted by the first number of the lug pattern (5).
While the differences may seem minimal among the two lug patterns, every single decimal counts when it comes to fitting wheels right.
This is why we have included other specifications that go hand-in-hand with the lug pattern so that you can be more confident when shopping for the right wheels for your Camaro.
Wheel and Lug Specifications of the Chevy Camaro
The current generation of the Chevy Camaro is the 6th generation of the entire lineup, and it will have its own wheel and lug specifications just like the rest.
The wheel specifications for each generation include both the factory tire sizes and rim sizes offered during that time.
We’ve paired these tire sizes and rim sizes together with the corresponding trim level (engine option) that had them in each generation’s table below.
The lug specifications, on the other hand, collectively refer to each generation’s center bore diameter, type of wheel fastener, thread size, and torque tightening specification.
As a general rule, the lug specifications remain identical across all Camaro trim levels as long as they are within the same generation.
6th-Generation Chevrolet Camaro (2016 to Present/2022)
The 6th and current generation of the Chevy Camaro was unveiled in 2016 and has undergone a facelift for the 2019 model year.
Even with a new design that looks sharper than ever, the newest Camaro actually retains all of the lug specifications that the last generation had.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.63 inches (66.9mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M14x1.5
Torque Spec: 140lb-ft (190Nm)
2019 to Present/2022 (Facelift)
The facelift model received a design refresh for the front and rear ends of the car as well as other interior features that were not present in the earlier models.
However, not much has changed when it comes to the wheel specifications except for an additional set of wider tires and rims for the top-of-the-line ZL1 facelift model.
2016 to 2018 (Pre-Facelift)
The first batches of the 6th-generation Camaro were produced until 2018, and there were four different engine options to choose from.
Both the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (I4) trim and the 3.6-liter V6 trim shared the same tire size and rim size.
The SS trim equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 had 245mm tires on the front and 275mm ones on the rear. These tires also had their own respective rim sizes as seen below.
The top-tier ZL1 trim was equipped with a supercharged version of the 6.2-liter engine of the SS trim.
The ZL1 also had different-sized front and rear wheels, albeit considerably wider than the ones on the SS trim.
5th-Generation Chevrolet Camaro (2010 to 2015)
The 5th-generation Chevy Camaro probably has one of the most well-known faces of any modern American car.
Aside from being the first modern Camaro to be featured in one of the Transformer films, it was also a much-anticipated model due to an 8-year gap from the last-generation Camaro.
As mentioned earlier, this generation of the Camaro featured the exact same set of lug specifications that the 6th generation currently has.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.63 inches (66.9mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M14x1.5
Torque Spec: 140lb-ft (190Nm)
The 5th-generation Camaro had a total of five trim levels according to the engine that was fitted in each one.
While there was no 2.0-liter turbocharged engine offered during this time, there was a 7-liter V8 engine that was the same used in the Chevy Corvette Z06.
This 7-liter V8 trim was equipped with 305mm tires on all four wheels, but the rear rims were a bit wider than the front.
The base 3.6-liter V6 trim had the most wheel specifications among all the trims, which included a set of 245mm front tires and 275mm rear tires that were also used for the 6.2-liter V8 trim.
By 2012, the first ever modern ZL1 trim was introduced that had almost identical wheel specifications to the 6th-generation ZL1 models.
One difference is that the 5th-generation ZL1 had a tire aspect ratio of 35, while its 6th-generation counterpart currently has 30 instead.
Another one is that the 5th generation’s front rim offset was 23mm, while the 6th generation’s front rim currently has a 20mm offset only.
4th-Generation Chevrolet Camaro (1993 to 2002)
The 4th-generation Chevy Camaro was produced for nine model years and is sometimes called the “Catfish” due to its front fascia design.
It was also the fourth Camaro to be built on GM’s “F-body” platform that went all back to the 1st Camaro in the late 60s.
Unlike the first two generations we’ve discussed, this Camaro generation featured a bigger 2.77-inch center bore diameter but a smaller M12x1.5 thread size.
Just take note that we only have an estimated torque tightening range to work with, as various available sources slightly differ in what value they recommend.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 90 to 100lb-ft (122 to 135.6Nm) (estimate only)
1998 to 2002 (Facelift)
The 4th-generation Camaro received a facelift for the 1998 model year, which included three different trim levels that were also present in the pre-facelift models.
The base 3.8-liter V6 variant received two different sets of wheel specifications that gave it either 215mm or 235mm tires on all four wheels.
The 5.7-liter V8 middle trim also received the same 235mm tires and 8Jx16 ET55 rim size that the base trim had.
The top-of-the-line SS trim, which also had a 5.7-liter V8, received wider 275mm Z-rated tires and 17-inch rims.
1993 to 1997 (Pre-Facelift)
The pre-facelift models of the 4th-generation Camaro had an additional 3.4-liter V6 trim aside from the three that we’ve previously mentioned for the facelift ones.
However, it was eventually replaced in 1995 by the same 3.8-liter V6 above. Both of these trims had the exact same 215mm tire size and 16-inch rim size also used in the facelift base model.
Apart from that, both the 5.7-liter V8 SS and non-SS trims were equipped with the same wheel specifications that we’ve listed for their facelift counterparts.
3rd-Generation Chevrolet Camaro (1982 to 1992)
The 3rd-generation Chevy Camaro is quite a favorite among today’s enthusiasts because of the popular “IROC-Z” trim.
But just mentioning the IROC-Z is barely enough to cover all the nuanced details that the 3rd-generation Camaro had to offer in terms of specifications.
While its lug specifications were almost identical to the 4th generation, the 3rd-generation Camaro was in a league of its own when it came to engine options.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 80 to 100lb-ft (108.5 to 135.6Nm) (estimate only)
During the 3rd generation’s production run, Chevrolet really loved to experiment with different engine configurations within the same model.
The iconic IROC-Z trim introduced in 1985, for instance, had five 5-liter V8 engine options with different codes throughout the years (e.g. LB9, LG4).
This doesn’t even include the various times that Chevrolet had increased the horsepower of each engine.
Due to the very specific and rather complicated nature of the 3rd-generation Camaro’s trim levels and wheel specifications, we opted to let the table provided below do the explaining.
2nd-Generation Chevrolet Camaro (1970 to 1981)
Among all of the Camaro generations, the 2nd-generation Camaro had the longest production run to date, which lasted 11 years.
It was also considered one of the most successful Camaro models, racking up over 280,000 sales in 1979 alone.
The 2nd-generation Camaro was also the first-ever Camaro to be used by “Bumblebee” in Transformers.
Both the center bore diameter and the type of wheel fastener were the same as the newer models, but this specific generation had an older 7/16” – 20 UNF thread size.
The measurements for this thread size are 11.112mm for its major diameter and 1.27mm for its pitch.
Thus, these measurements would be written like “M11.112×1.27” using the modern metric lug format.
Unfortunately, we don’t really have an exact torque value for the 2nd generation’s factory lugs at the moment due to a lack of consistent information.
Considering modern aftermarket wheels for the 2nd-generation Camaro can have different thread sizes, the actual torque value may also vary depending on which wheels you get.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: 7/16” – 20 UNF
Torque Spec: N/A
Similar to the 3rd generation, the 2nd-generation Camaro also had a ton of trim levels available for customers during its time.
But thankfully, its wheel specifications are slightly less complicated to list compared to the last one.
While we only have replacement options for all except one trim from 1970 to 1979, we did manage to get the factory wheel specifications of the 1980 to 1981 trims.
1st-Generation Chevrolet Camaro (1967 to 1969)
The Camaro nameplate first started with the 1967 model year, which was made to directly compete against the first Ford Mustang.
Its lug specifications are, for the most part, identical to the ones on the 2nd generation, but we have an estimate for its lugs’ torque tightening specification, at least.
But then again, these were for the factory wheels several decades ago.
If you’re planning to go for aftermarket wheels, make sure you get an authorized mechanic to help you out with the tightening.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: 7/16” – 20 UNF
Torque Spec: 65lb-ft (estimate only)
Even though the first Chevy Camaro was only in production for three model years, it was fitted with an impressive number of engine options with different displacements.
Despite this, all of the trim levels were equipped with the same two tire sizes and two rim sizes listed in the table below.
How to Tighten the Lugs on the Chevy Camaro
Now that you’ve hopefully familiarized yourself with the Chevy Camaro’s lug and wheel specifications, it’s time to talk about actually tightening the lugs themselves.
Just like any car on the road, the Chevy Camaro requires a specific tightening order that is based on the number of lug nuts that it has.
Since every single generation of the Camaro uses a total of 5 lug nuts, we can refer to it as having a “5-lug pattern”.
If you’ve checked out our Dodge Challenger article before, then this is also the exact same pattern we’ve mentioned for two of its generations.
In general, there is an abundance of vehicles on the road that use a 5-lug pattern, typically passenger cars.
With that said, these cars including the Chevy Camaro require using the tightening order illustrated below.
The diagram above demonstrates the popular “star-shaped” tightening order that should be used for any vehicle that has 5 lug nuts.
This enables the lug nuts to evenly distribute their tightening force across the wheel’s mating surfaces.
This is why simply tightening the lug nuts in a circular order wouldn’t work (nor is it safe either),
Each lug nut tightened slightly pulls the wheel in that direction, so by following a circular order, you may end up causing the first few lugs to loosen again.
Also, make sure to hand-tighten the lug nuts until they’re just snug enough if you’ve raised your Camaro up on jack stands.
After lowering the car back down, you can then tighten them with a torque wrench to the recommended torque specifications we’ve mentioned for each generation.
For the generations that either have estimate values only or have no available value at all, we recommend asking for help from an authorized mechanic when tightening your lug nuts.
It’s generally recommended by most wheel manufacturers to test drive the car for 50 miles (80km) and recheck the torque values of the lug nuts again afterward.
If they keep getting loose after driving relatively short distances, then you may need to recalibrate your torque wrench, clean the mating surfaces, or replace your wheels entirely.
When to Change the Tires on the Chevy Camaro
Changing the tires on a performance car like the Chevy Camaro may be slightly different in terms of the interval compared to the average commuter car.
It’s quite common knowledge that any performance car will have tires that have a shorter lifespan due to their intended use.
While the average car tire lasts for around 60,000 to 75,000 miles of driving, you can expect the Chevy Camaro’s tires to last shorter than that.
Some owners are able to get over 20,000 miles on their tires, while others just barely made it to 15,000 with more aggressive driving.
So really, the actual value can be dependent on your driving style, the terrain you drive on, and even the season when you drive the most.
If you’re not exactly sure when you should be changing your tires, then you can use either of the two ways we’ve provided below to measure how much tread depth you have left.
The first image shows what we call “tread wear indicator bars”, which are engineered deep between the treads on new tires.
As tires wear out, the treads will eventually reach the same height as these bars. Once they do, your tires are already too worn out and need to be changed.
Alternatively, you can also insert a penny upside down between the treads, as shown in the second image. You can then check the tread depth based on how much of Abraham Lincoln’s head remains unseen.
Half of his head would be hidden on newer tires. If his head is already fully exposed, then you have less than 1/16 of an inch left on your treads and it’s time to swap out your tires.
How and When to Rotate the Tires on the Chevy Camaro
Unlike tire changes, tire rotations will be performed more frequently because they are meant to prolong your tires before you eventually need to change them further down the road.
It’s not just the interval that you should keep in mind when rotating tires, but also the rotation pattern itself.
The rotation pattern is generally dependent on your car’s drivetrain system and the type of tires fitted on it.
The drivetrain system can refer to front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), or all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations.
The type of tires, however, can be classified into directional (unidirectional) and non-directional tires.
In general, running non-directional tires on any car will have the tire rotation pattern dependent solely on the car’s drivetrain by default.
Since every single Camaro ever made was only fitted with an RWD system, then there’s only one rotation pattern to be used when it’s fitted with non-directional tires.
The diagram above shows the “rearward cross” pattern, which is what we’ve discussed for other RWD cars like the Nissan 350Z as well.
The name of the pattern comes from the act of crossing the front tires towards the rear. The rear tires, however, are simply moved to the front without changing sides.
But when it comes to directional tires, which are manufactured to have treads that optimally perform in one direction, a rotation pattern where crossing is involved wouldn’t be applicable.
Thus, a Chevy Camaro, or any car equipped with directional tires, should only use the “straight” rotation demonstrated above, regardless of the drivetrain.
The tire rotation intervals for these patterns should be every 5,000 to 7,500 miles for RWD cars like the Camaro.
It would have been a thousand miles or so sooner if the Camaro was ever released with an AWD system, but that’ll be all tinkering that seemingly only racing teams are willing to do.
