Finding the right set of 2016 Dodge Dart wheels is a nightmare if you don't know the bolt pattern. Seriously. It’s a weird one. While most cars in this class use a standard 5x114.3 or a 5x100, the Dart sits on a 5x110mm pattern. That’s a legacy of its Alfa Romeo roots. If you buy wheels for a Civic or a Corolla and try to slap them on your Dart, they aren't going to fit. You'll be sitting in your driveway with a jacked-up car and a very expensive set of paperweights.
It's frustrating.
Most people just want their car to look decent or, honestly, just want to replace a rim they bent on a pothole in February. The 2016 model was the final year for the Dart, and by then, Dodge had refined the trim levels quite a bit. You had the SE, SXT, Aero, GT, and the Limited. Each one came with a different factory wheel setup, ranging from basic steelies to those aggressive 18-inch hyper black aluminum wheels that everyone wants.
The Bolt Pattern Trap and Why It Matters
Let's talk specs. The 5x110mm bolt pattern is shared with a few other cars, mostly older Saabs and some Saturns or Pontiacs like the G6 and Solstice. This makes the secondhand market for 2016 Dodge Dart wheels a little bit of a scavenger hunt.
The offset is another headache. Usually, you're looking at a +40mm to +46mm offset. If you go too wide or too shallow, your tires are going to rub against the struts or poke out past the fenders like a 1990s lowrider. Nobody wants that on a compact sedan. The hub bore is 65.1mm. If you buy aftermarket wheels with a larger bore, you absolutely need hub-centric rings. Without them, the wheel is centered only by the lug nuts, which leads to a shaky steering wheel at 60 mph. It feels like the car is falling apart. It’s not, but it’s annoying.
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Factory Options: From Steel to Hyper Black
If you're looking at a base SE, you probably have the 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers. They are ugly. Functional, but ugly. Moving up to the SXT usually gets you the 16-inch aluminum wheels, but the real prizes are the 17s and 18s.
The GT trim is where things got interesting. Those 18x7.5-inch wheels in Hyper Black are arguably the best-looking wheels Dodge ever put on a small car. They have a smoky, metallic finish that looks dark in the shade and bright in the sun. But here's the catch: they are heavy. Every pound of unsprung weight matters on a car with a 2.0L or 2.4L Tigershark engine. If you switch from the lightweight 16s to the heavy 18s, you’re going to feel a slight dip in off-the-line acceleration. It’s a trade-off. Style vs. snap.
Identifying Damage Before You Buy Used
Buying used wheels is a gamble. People curb them constantly. When you're looking at a set of used 2016 Dodge Dart wheels on Facebook Marketplace or eBay, look for "curb rash" along the outer lip. It's mostly cosmetic, but it's a sign the previous owner didn't care much.
Worse than rash is a bend. Aluminum wheels don't bend back easily. If you see a flat spot on the inner barrel of the rim, walk away. It’s trash. You can take it to a wheel repair shop, but they’ll charge you $150 to straighten it, and by then, you might as well have bought a new one.
Then there's the finish. Dodge's "Hyper Black" and "Gloss Black" finishes are notorious for peeling if they’ve been exposed to too much road salt in northern climates. Look for bubbling under the clear coat. Once that starts, the only way to fix it is a full sand-down and powder coat.
Aftermarket vs. OEM
Should you stick with Mopar parts? Honestly, it depends on your goal. If you want to keep the resale value of your Dart high, stick to the OEM 18-inch wheels from the GT or the Blacktop package. They fit perfectly and they look "right."
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However, if you want to lose weight, look at brands like Enkei or Konig. They make 5x110 wheels that are significantly lighter than the factory cast aluminum. Reducing that unsprung weight makes the suspension react faster to bumps. It makes the steering feel "darty"—pun intended.
Just remember the TPMS sensors. The 2016 Dart uses a 433MHz tire pressure monitoring system. If you buy new wheels, you need to swap your old sensors over or buy new ones. If you don't, that little yellow horseshoe light on your dash will haunt your dreams forever.
Real World Fitment Issues
I’ve seen guys try to fit 19-inch wheels on a Dart. It’s possible, but you’re sacrificing ride quality. The sidewall of the tire becomes so thin that every pebble feels like a boulder. For a daily driver, 17 inches is the sweet spot. It gives you enough sidewall to protect the rim from potholes while still looking aggressive.
The 2016 Dodge Dart Aero used a specific 16-inch lightweight wheel to help hit those MPG targets. If you have an Aero and you swap those out for heavy 18s, don't be surprised when your fuel economy drops by 2 or 3 miles per gallon. Physics is a jerk like that.
Maintenance Tips for Longevity
Stop using harsh acid cleaners. If you have the gloss black or hyper black wheels, those "spray and pray" wheel cleaners will eat the clear coat over time. Use a pH-neutral soap and a soft microfiber mitt.
Brake dust is the enemy. The Dart's factory pads can be pretty dusty. If you let that dust sit on the wheels for months, it actually bakes into the finish. Waxing your wheels sounds crazy, but a quick coat of synthetic sealant makes the dust slide right off the next time you wash it.
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Actionable Next Steps for Dart Owners
- Check your current size. Look at the sidewall of your tire. If it says R16, R17, or R18, that's your wheel diameter. Don't guess.
- Confirm your bolt pattern. It is 5x110mm. Always. Do not let a shop sell you "universal" 5-lug wheels that use "wobble bolts." It’s a safety risk you don't need.
- Inspect for cracks. If you’re losing air pressure but your tire is fine, you might have a hairline crack in the aluminum rim. This is common in areas with bad roads.
- Match your lugs. If you buy aftermarket wheels, the factory lug nuts might be too "fat" for the new lug holes. You’ll likely need "tuner style" slim lug nuts with a specific key.
- Torque them properly. Use a torque wrench. The spec for a 2016 Dodge Dart is 100 lb-ft (135 Nm). Over-tightening can warp your brake rotors, and under-tightening... well, wheels falling off is generally considered a bad day.
The Dart is a unique car with a European chassis and American styling. Treating the wheels with that same level of specific attention is the only way to keep it looking good and driving safely.