Proper Lug Nuts or Lug Bolts FAQ

[Pimpin_29y]

While many aftermarket alloy wheels are designed to use your car's original lug nuts or bolts, others require new hardware. It may be something as critical as differences in the wheel's lug seat design as shown below, or something as simple as shorter lug heads to allow the wheel's center caps to fit. If your new wheels require new hardware, your invoice will list the appropriate quantity identified by our part description, beginning with an "N" for lug nuts or a "B" for lug bolts followed by the size, pitch, seat design, length and the appropriate lug wrench socket size.

NOTE: Keep a set of your vehicle’s Original Equipment lug nuts or bolts in the trunk just in case you ever need to use your factory spare tire, which must always be installed with the Original Equipment lug hardware.



Taken From: Tirerack.com

[kevcol74]

Nice write up, thanks for bringing this to light at the time everyone is switching over! Especially the point about keeping factory lugs in the trunk incase you need to use the spare! Bet ALOT of people don't think about this!

[Pimpin_29y]

Nice write up, thanks for bringing this to light at the time everyone is switching over! Especially the point about keeping factory lugs in the trunk incase you need to use the spare! Bet ALOT of people don't think about this!

Thanks for the credit....but.

Taken From: Tirerack.com

[Hives]

Good write up. I would never have thought about keeping my factory lugs in the trunk if I was using tuner lugs. Thanks for the reminder

[Fobio]

From Wikipedia:

Lug nuts or bolts

Another thing to consider when new wheels are purchased is proper lug nuts or bolts. They are usually either flat, tapered (generally at 60 degrees and referred to as conical seat), or ball seats, meaning the mounting surfaces are flat, tapered, or spherical respectively. For example, most Mercedes have ball lug seats from the factory while most aftermarket wheels have a tapered lug design. If you buy aftermarket wheels for a Mercedes make sure you get the proper lug nuts for the wheel or the wheel will not be properly centered. Some manufacturers (e.g. Toyota and Lexus) have used taper lug nuts for steel wheels and flat seated lug nuts for alloy wheels.

Some aftermarket wheels will only fit smaller lug nuts, or not allow an ordinary lug nut to be properly torqued down because a socket will not fit into the lug hole. Tuner lug nuts were created to solve the problem. Tuner lug nuts utilize a special key to allow removal and installation with standard lug wrench or socket. The design of tuner lug nuts can range from bit style to multisided or spline drive , and are sometimes lightweight for performance purposes. A variation is the "locking wheel nut", which is almost universally used for alloy wheels in the United Kingdom. One standard lug nut on each wheel is replaced with a nut which requires a special and unique key (typically a computer-designed, rounded star shape) to fit and remove the nut. This helps to discourage theft of wheels. However, universal removal tools are available which grip the head of the locking nut using a hardened left-hand thread. The success of these depends on whether there is room to use it in the lug hole, and whether the manufacturer has incorporated a free-spinning outer casing to the lock.

- Make sure to keep a set of lugs that fit your spare tire.
- Keep a key to aftermarket lug nuts and locking nuts in the car in case of a flat.
- Keep the key in the trunk if possible to help reduce the risk of theft.(If your key is in the front part of the car thieves need only break into the car to have access to your lug key.)

[condor888000]

For the record, Mazda's use conical/tapered seat lugs stock.

[b.rabbit]

I can't find any info about this on the forum so I thought this would be the right place to ask.

What's the proper size for the lug nut socket for OEM lug nuts for the Mazda3? 13/16"?

There's no difference between a Mazda3 and a Mazda3 Sport right? And any year?

I'm currently driving a 2008 Mazda3 Sport.

Thanks for any help!

[pacmann33]

21mm

[b.rabbit]

Thanks.

[cwb27]

Ok, I need some help here...

I've got a 2010 3 with steel wheels, my winters are mounted on alloys from a 2003 Protege... I assume I will need different lug nuts?

My old 3 was a 2004 with 17" alloys, I just used the same lugs.

Help?

[Google]

If I am going to buy a socket and a torque wrench, what should I be looking for as sizes go to tighten the lug nuts?

[Roadwarrior]

Looking to pick up a set of aluminum lugs for aftermarket rims. Anyone know what brand is best without spending over $130? I heard Mutekis r ok and JDMs. will using an air gun ruin the lugs?

[midnightfxgt]

^^^ YES! Never use a gun on the aluminum ones, they can;t take it

[Default User]

Looking to pick up a set of aluminum lugs for aftermarket rims. Anyone know what brand is best without spending over $130? I heard Mutekis r ok and JDMs. will using an air gun ruin the lugs?

other than weight and style - there isnt much difference in aftermarket lugs.
colored lugs will chip or fade

you can get plain aftermaket chrome or black splined lugs for about $40/set

^^^ YES! Never use a gun on the aluminum ones, they can;t take it

+1
you should never use an impact gun on aftermarket lugs

[Lactose]

Guess this is the right place to ask.

What do I have to look for in Aftermarket lugs for RX8 Wheels. Getting them Powdercoated and was looking for the anodized lugs that would work with the RX8 wheels.

[Timotee]

Anybody here utilizing aftermarket lug nuts on their MSR 045 rims? Is it true that OEM lugs are not compatible with this wheel?

I did a search and cannot find any in the forum.

Thanks in advance guys.

[midnightfxgt]

Anybody here utilizing aftermarket lug nuts on their MSR 045 rims? Is it true that OEM lugs are not compatible with this wheel?

I did a search and cannot find any in the forum.

Thanks in advance guys.

Most of the MSR (and other aftermarket wheels) need tuner lugs. They have the same seat and thread but are narrowe and come with a key.

[Timotee]

Thanks buddy! You have to pardon my ignorance, not a regular modder.

Was looking at MSR 045s at BKW Brampton this afternoon. They told me I need a set of lugs to seat the rims properly.

[funkdupspeed3]

i just bought a set of wheels and they came with McGard Tuner Lugnuts and wheel locks but are 12x1.25. Can i use them on my 2013 Mazda3?

[miako]

I got mcgard spline drive for my summer wheels, the spec on it is M12 x 1.5. So my guess is no, 1.25 won't fit.

[funkdupspeed3]

Thanks for the reply. I guess they will be for sale on kijiji lol

[midnightfxgt]

i just bought a set of wheels and they came with McGard Tuner Lugnuts and wheel locks but are 12x1.25. Can i use them on my 2013 Mazda3?

Like miako said, you need 1.5. The 1.25 fit Nissans and a couple others, but not near as many as the 1.5

[marcodude04]

can someone tell me what id need to put msr 095s on? conical 12x1.5?

[midnightfxgt]

can someone tell me what id need to put msr 095s on? conical 12x1.5?

You got it. 12x1.5 is the size, and a cone seat is the norm. For the MSR, you will likely need "tuner" or "spline" hardware. It's narrower than the 12x1.5 lug nuts that come with the car, otherwise you would be able to re-use.

[marcodude04]

You got it. 12x1.5 is the size, and a cone seat is the norm. For the MSR, you will likely need "tuner" or "spline" hardware. It's narrower than the 12x1.5 lug nuts that come with the car, otherwise you would be able to re-use.

so if i want to run say a 5-10 mm spacer id need an open ended lug so id be able to remove the spacer in the future correct?