The Equinox was first introduced as a mid-size crossover SUV by Chevrolet back in 2004 for the 2005 model year.
At that time, it was also Chevrolet’s first car-based SUV. The current Equinox, however, is now specifically classified as a compact crossover SUV.
Throughout the years, newer generations and facelifts changed numerous specifications of the Equinox, one of them being its bolt pattern.
In this article, we’ve included every Equinox generation’s bolt pattern as well as other essential specifications when it comes to wheel fitment.
What is the bolt pattern of a Chevy Equinox?
All Chevy Equinox models made from 2005 to 2009 and 2017 to the current/2022 year model are equipped with a 5×4.53-inch (5x115mm) bolt pattern.
2010 to 2016 Chevy Equinox models were fitted with a slightly larger bolt pattern that measured 5×4.72 inches (5x120mm).
The three different sets of production years that we’ve mentioned above actually refer to the three generations of the Chevy Equinox.
As you can see, two of those generations shared the exact same bolt pattern, while only one generation was fitted with a different one.
Despite this seemingly small difference, it’s still enough to cause fitment issues if you even attempt to fit wheels with that margin of error.
Also, this doesn’t even take the other bolt specifications and wheel specifications of the Equinox into consideration, both of which we’ll be discussing right after this part.
Wheel and Bolt Specifications of the Chevy Equinox
The Chevy Equinox was manufactured both as a compact and mid-size crossover SUV depending on the generation.
Hence, it’s to be expected that all of the Equinox generations will have some amount of difference between them regarding their wheel and bolt specifications.
For the wheel specifications, we’ve included each Equinox generation’s factory tire sizes and rim sizes.
These sizes will be paired up with each generation’s specific trim levels. Such trim levels will be indicated by the engine that they were fitted with.
The bolt specifications for each generation will include four different entries, namely the center bore diameter, type of wheel fastener, thread size, and torque tightening specification.
As a general rule, these bolt specifications will remain the same for every single trim level within a certain generation unless stated otherwise.
3rd-Generation Chevy Equinox (2017 to Present/2022)
The 3rd-generation Equinox is the newest Chevy Equinox in the lineup since its unveiling in 2016.
Among the three Equinox generations, the 3rd-generation Equinox is the only one that has transitioned over to the compact crossover SUV class.
Along with this change in class is also its switchover to GM’s newer “D2XX platform”, which is also used for other cars such as the 2nd-generation Chevy Cruze.
The current generation of the Chevy Equinox also underwent a facelift that was initially planned for 2021 but was moved to this year instead.
Despite this, both the facelift and pre-facelift Equinox models of this generation use the exact same bolt specifications that we’ve listed below.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (140Nm)
2021 to Present/2022 (Facelift)
Chevrolet introduced a considerable amount of refreshes for the 3rd-generation Equinox that are all new for the 2022 model year.
Some of these changes include a new grill design, new headlights and tail lights, and smaller changes to the front and rear fascia.
2022 also saw the inclusion of the newer RS trim, which replaced the Midnight, Sport, and Redline trims
Other things that were discontinued for the facelift model include the base L trim and both the 1.6-liter and 2-liter engines previously offered for the pre-facelift model.
This leaves the 3rd-generation facelift model with the sole 1.5-liter turbocharged engine for all of its trims.
All of these 1.5-liter trims are fitted with either 225mm tires paired with 17 or 18-inch rims or wider 235mm tires paired with 19-inch rims.
2017 to 2020 (Pre-Facelift)
Back in 2016, Chevrolet unveiled the 3rd-generation Equinox, but it wasn’t until 2017 that mass production actually started for the model.
Both the 1.5-liter and 2-liter gasoline-powered turbo models were the first to be released while the 1.6-liter turbodiesel models joined the market the year after.
The engines used for the gasoline variants of the pre-facelift Equinox were actually the same ones used for the 9th-generation Chevy Malibu in 2016.
But regardless of the engine that it had, the pre-facelift Equinox has only been fitted with one pairing of wheel specifications; a 225mm tire size and a 17-inch rim size.
2nd-Generation Chevy Equinox (2010 to 2017)
The 2nd-generation Chevy Equinox went on for eight straight model years ever since 2010, but it was actually during the 2009 North American International Auto Show when it first debuted.
During its days, the 2nd-generation Equinox was still built on GM’s older “GM Theta” platform, albeit an upgraded version of it that was stiffer than the one used on the 1st-generation model.
Compared to the 3rd generation, the 2nd generation had a slightly more rounded design, especially when it came to its front fascia and headlights.
Its wheelbase and overall length were also a few inches longer than the 3rd generation, which is to be expected due to its mid-size crossover classification.
While its other bolt specifications were identical to that of the other generations, it used a slightly bigger thread size of M14x1.5 instead of an M12x1.5.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M14x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (140Nm)
2016 to 2017 (Facelift)
As with the 3rd generation, the 2nd-generation Equinox also got its looks revamped. However, it only lasted for two years as the next generation was soon to be unveiled.
Apart from a few minor exterior and interior design changes, the 2nd-generation facelift model didn’t differ that much from its pre-facelift counterpart when it came to the wheel specifications.
The facelift model also had one less trim level due to the discontinuation of the mid-range 3-liter V6 trim back in 2012.
Thus, the only trim levels left for the facelift model were a 2.4-liter inline-4 (I4) trim and a 3.6-liter V6 trim.
Both of these trim levels only used one set of wheel specifications, which included a 225mm tire size and a 17-inch rim size with a positive offset of 43.
2010 to 2015 (Pre-Facelift)
2010 was the first model year for the 2nd-generation Chevy Equinox. The model years then continued to roll off the factory until the facelift model was released.
Thus, any 2nd-generation Equinox made between 2010 and 2015 were considered as the “pre-facelift” models.
As we’ve mentioned above, the Equinox still had the 3-liter V6 trim during this time. It was then eventually replaced by the bigger-displacement 3.6-liter V6 in 2013.
Not much can be said about its wheel specifications, as they were just the exact same ones listed for the facelift models too.
1st-Generation Chevy Equinox (2005 to 2009)
The first-ever Chevy Equinox was released for the 2005 model year, and it was the only other Equinox model that was built on the GM Theta platform as well.
The 1st-generation Chevy Equinox shared a lot of commonalities with other cars built on the same platform, such as the Suzuki XL7 and Pontiac Torrent.
The Chevy Equinox, together with these GM Theta-based models, were all classified as mid-size crossover SUVs.
However, the Equinox was actually intended to go up against competitors with slightly smaller dimensions like the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape of those years.
Despite being classified as a “mid-size” vehicle, the 1st-generation Equinox had identical bolt specifications to the “compact” 3rd-generation Equinox.
It’s still quite unsurprising, especially after discussing how the two generations used the same 5×4.53-inch (5x115mm) bolt pattern earlier too.
Center Bore Diameter: 2.77 inches (70.3mm)
Wheel Fastener: Lug Nut (5)
Thread Size: M12x1.5
Torque Spec: 100lb-ft (140Nm)
Unlike the first two generations we’ve talked about, the 1st-generation Equinox only had minor design changes through the years that were not enough to be collectively called a “facelift”.
Unless you were to go for its Pontiac or Suzuki counterpart, there was really not much you could do to escape the gaze of its even bigger and rounder set of headlights.
It also only had two engine options to choose from for its trim levels, which were both V6 engines with slightly different displacements.
But in spite of these things, the 1st-generation Equinox technically still had the most variation in its wheel specifications for each trim.
For instance, the base 3.4-liter V6 variant received a 235mm tire size and 16-inch rim diameter.
But by 2007, its rim offset was changed from 47 to 46 while still keeping the same rim width and rim diameter.
The top-of-the-line 3.6-liter V6 variant was added to the lineup in 2008, and it was equipped with its own 235mm Z-rated tires and 7Jx18 ET46 rim size.
How to Tighten the Bolts on the Chevy Equinox
Now that we’ve laid out the bolt pattern, bolt specifications, and wheel specifications of the Chevy Equinox for you, it’s also a good time to talk about tightening the bolts themselves.
The bolts (or lug nuts) are the only things keeping your wheels on your vehicle’s wheel hub, so it’s crucial that you keep them tightened up to their recommended torque specifications.
Not only that, but you also need to make sure that you are tightening them in the correct order.
You cannot just tighten the bolts while going in clockwise or counterclockwise order, as that can slightly flex the wheel in a certain direction that can leave a few bolts loose again.
The proper tightening order will be dependent on the number of bolts that your wheels have.
In the case of the Chevy Equinox, there are five lug nuts that need to be tightened for each of its wheels.
Keeping this in mind, we can then say that the Chevy Equinox has a “5-lug pattern”. Thus, we will be using the tightening order shown below.
The diagram shows how 5-lug patterns are supposed to be tightened, which is basically by following a star-shaped pattern because of the number of lug nuts.
By following this tightening order, you can distribute the tightening or clamping force more evenly across the wheel, thus decreasing the chances of the lug nuts coming loose.
Adding on to this, remember to tighten the lug nuts only snug enough if you currently have the car raised on jack stands.
It’s otherwise unsafe (and a bit more difficult) to fully tighten lug nuts on a car that’s off the ground.
Once you’ve lowered the car back down, you can then torque its lug nuts to their full specifications with a torque wrench.
As a quick recap, the torque tightening specification for all Chevy Equinox models will be 100lb-ft (140Nm).
General industry practices recommend test driving the car for about 50 miles (80km) and then rechecking the lug nuts again to see if there are any changes in their torque values.
Retighten them if you notice any changes. You can also consider cleaning in between the wheel mating surfaces so no dirt and debris can cause them to loosen.
If they keep loosening even after every short drive, then you may need to recalibrate your torque wrench or get your wheels replaced.
When to Change the Tires on the Chevy Equinox
The tires are your vehicle’s main contact point with the road. As a result, they undergo constant wear and tear as you’re driving along.
With that said, it’s important to know how long they can last and when you should be swapping them out for new ones when they eventually reach the end of their lifecycle.
As with most tires on most everyday vehicles on the road, the tires on the Chevy Equinox can last between 60,000 to 75,000 miles on average.
Factors that can decrease or increase this range include your driving style, how often you drive, the terrain you frequently drive on, and even the season when you drive the most.
Let’s assume that you’re unsure about how many miles you’ve driven on your tires. Well, we recommend two ways to check the life of your tires via their “tread depth”.
The first way is to look for the “tread wear indicator bars” on your tires, which initially sit deep between the treads when the tire is still new.
These bars will eventually get more exposed as the tire treads become thinner due to wear. Once your treads reach the same height as these bars, then you’re due for a tire change.
Another popular way to measure tread depth is by taking a penny and putting it upside down within the grooves of your tire.
If half of Lincoln’s head remains hidden, then your tires are still good to go. But when his whole head can be seen, then you have less than 1/16 of an inch left on your tire treads.
1/16 of an inch is the legal tread depth limit in most places, so going past this means that you should undoubtedly change your tires already.
How and When to Rotate the Tires on the Chevy Equinox
Just like tire changes, tire rotations are another important part of the overall maintenance of the Chevy Equinox.
They are performed for the purpose of making sure your tires evenly wear out throughout their lifespan.
Two general things to consider when rotating tires are the type of tires and the drivetrain of the vehicle.
For the purpose of this section, we’ll only be talking about tires that are either directional or non-directional.
When a vehicle is equipped with directional or unidirectional tires, there is only one proper way to rotate them regardless of the vehicle’s drivetrain.
The pattern above is called the “straight rotation”, which is a type of rotation pattern that involves just simply switching the front and rear tires with each other.
Doing this will allow the treads on directional tires to face the same direction that they were intended to perform the best.
But for non-directional tires, which are the more common type, the vehicle’s drivetrain is then taken into consideration.
All three generations of the Chevy Equinox came with front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard and optional all-wheel drive (AWD).
With that said, we have presented two different rotation patterns for these two drivetrains.
The first pattern is called the “forward cross”, which is the correct rotation pattern for all FWD Chevy Equinox models.
In contrast, the second one is the “rearward cross” rotation pattern, which is applicable to all AWD Chevy Equinox models.
As for the tire rotation interval of these patterns, it should be every 5,000 to 7,500 miles for FWD models and 3,000 to 5,000 miles for AWD models.
AWD cars need their tires rotated a bit sooner since, unlike FWD cars, they distribute engine power to all four wheels.
As a result, tires on AWD cars wear faster compared to those on FWD cars.
