My wife's 2011 accord has 20-slot steel wheels. Why are there 10 holes of smaller diameter than the other 10?

 

Your first post, welcome.

Imagine that Honda had a newly graduated design engineer and he recommended this innovation.
Managers must have thought he would be a good employee and supported his design so as not to discourage him.

 

I've never noticed this on wheels, but things like that are done sometimes to prevent strange noises. But it seems if they're trying to prevent certain harmonics they would mix them up rather than all on one side.

 

It's a mystery ... noise suppression is logical ... a new engineer like "UHOH" said? I asked a wheel re-seller and he scratched his head, too !

 

The different sized holes could also help with balancing the rim with or without the tire?