Acura RL Wheels and Rims

Acura RL Aftermarket Wheel Fitment

The Acura RL was Acura's flagship luxury sedan from 1997 through 2012, sold across two generations before Acura replaced the RL with the RLX for the 2014 model year. The RL is a discontinued nameplate now, but the catalog stays live because RL wheel fitment is still a common request from owners of the 1997-2004 1st gen KA9 and the 2005-2012 2nd gen KB1 / KB2 SH-AWD cars. The bolt pattern moved once across the RL lifetime. The 1997-2004 1st gen RL 3.5 ran 5x114.3 with a 64.1mm hub bore and M12x1.5 thread. The 2005-2012 2nd gen RL 3.5 (KB1 and the KB2 refresh) moves to 5x120 with the same 64.1mm hub bore and a thicker M14x1.5 thread. The 2nd gen RL launched with Acura's SH-AWD super-handling all-wheel-drive system on every trim. Two variants matter for clearance: the 2005-2008 KB1 RL 3.5 and the 2006-2008 RL 3.5 with the Tech Package both carry larger front brake packages than the post-refresh 2009-2012 KB2 RL. Find your generation and trim below for the specs that apply to your specific RL.

Find Your Acura RL Generation

Pick your year range and trim to see wheels and rims that fit your specific RL. The bolt pattern transition is the first thing to confirm. 1997-2004 1st gen KA9 RL 3.5: 5x114.3 with M12x1.5 thread. 2005-2012 2nd gen KB1 / KB2 RL 3.5 (SH-AWD): 5x120 with M14x1.5 thread. Hub bore stays 64.1mm across every RL generation. Brake packages matter on the early 2nd gen cars. The 2005-2008 KB1 RL 3.5 and the 2006-2008 KB1 RL 3.5 with the Tech Package both carry larger front brake calipers than the 2009-2012 KB2 refresh.

The Acura RL Bolt Pattern Across 16 Model Years

The RL has carried two bolt patterns across its production run from 1997 to 2012. The 1997-2004 1st gen RL 3.5 (KA9) ran 5x114.3 (also called 5x4.5) with a 64.1mm hub bore and M12x1.5 wheel studs. The 5x114.3 pattern is the same one Acura was running on the same-era TL and the original Legend coupes, so cross-Acura curiosity is high. The hub bore matches Acura's 64.1mm standard.

The 2005-2012 2nd gen RL 3.5 (KB1 launch and the 2009 KB2 refresh) moves to 5x120 with the same 64.1mm hub bore. The 2005 transition also brought a thicker wheel stud (M14x1.5 instead of the older M12x1.5), reflecting the heavier 2nd gen chassis and the SH-AWD drivetrain. A wheel from a 2004 RL (5x114.3, M12x1.5) does not bolt onto a 2005 RL (5x120, M14x1.5) and vice versa, even though both cars wear the Acura RL badge. The 2005 model year transition is the single most important spec to confirm when cross-shopping RL wheels. The 5x114.3 pattern is sometimes called 5x4.5 (114.3mm equals 4.5 inches). 5x120 has no imperial nickname. The 5x120 pattern is the same one Acura was running on the same-era 2007-2009 MDX and the 2009-2014 4th gen TL. Compare across the rest of the Acura lineup at our Acura wheels and rims hub.

Why the 2005-2008 KB1 and Tech Package RL Are Separate Fitments

The RL had two trim variants in the 2nd gen pre-refresh era that we measure separately. The 2005-2008 KB1 RL 3.5 launched the 2nd generation with a larger front brake package than what eventually became the post-refresh standard. The 2006-2008 RL 3.5 with the Tech Package carries another distinct front brake setup. Both pre-refresh variants take more inner clearance behind the wheel face than the 2009-2012 KB2 refresh. The 2009 refresh brought the brake package back to the standard size on the RL, so the 2009-2012 KB2 RL is the most flexible 2nd gen RL for aftermarket wheel choice. SH-AWD is on every 2nd gen RL regardless of trim or year, and SH-AWD does not change the bolt pattern, hub bore, diameter, width, or aftermarket fitment window. The 1997-2004 1st gen KA9 RL is front-wheel-drive and runs the older 5x114.3 pattern.

Every wheel we recommend is backed by our Fitment Guarantee. If a wheel does not fit, we pick up the wheels and refund 100 percent. No risk to you.

How We Confirm Fitment on Acura RL Wheels

Element Wheels measures fitment on the platforms we sell wheels for, including every RL generation back to the 1997 1st gen KA9. For the RL that means clearance from the wheel to the fender, gap between the back of the wheel and the suspension, brake caliper height (especially on the 2005-2008 KB1 and the 2006-2008 Tech Package cars), hub bore confirmation, lug seat depth on both the M12x1.5 1st gen and the M14x1.5 2nd gen, and turning clearance. At our fitment facility in Chandler, Arizona, the Element Wheels team measures directly on the physical platforms we support. We don't pull specs from manufacturer sheets the way most retailers do.

That measurement work is what produced the per-generation fitment windows on this page, what separates the 1st gen 5x114.3 / M12 RL from the 2nd gen 5x120 / M14 RL, and what lets us flag the 2005-2008 KB1 and the Tech Package as larger-brake fitments that need confirmed wheel-face clearance. The 2005 transition from 5x114.3 to 5x120 plus the wheel stud change from M12x1.5 to M14x1.5 has caused real customer mistakes (people pulling wheels from a 2004 RL onto a 2005). The Fitment Guarantee covers it either way, but the goal is to get it right the first time.

Acura RL Wheels and Rims FAQ

Get Acura RL Wheels Right the First Time

Pick your generation above to see wheels and rims that fit. We measure on the RL platform across both generations, separate the 1st gen KA9 5x114.3 car from the 2nd gen KB1 / KB2 5x120 SH-AWD cars, treat the 2005-2008 KB1 and the 2006-2008 Tech Package as separate brake-clearance windows, and flag the 2005 transition from 5x114.3 / M12 to 5x120 / M14. Find your fit and start enjoying your build sooner.