![]() ![]() In a perfect world, you'll use a torque wrench for this job. Under-tightened lug nuts may not hold the wheel securely to the axle, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation, while over-tightening them can crack rims or, at the very least, make it a real struggle to remove them. It’s crucial to tighten lug nuts correctly. Wheels and tires can be very dirty things. While not absolutely necessary, mechanic's gloves are nice to have because they can improve your grip on tools and help keep your hands clean. When confronted with a flat or the need to switch over to winter tires or new wheels.īefore you begin, you’ll need a few tools such as a jack (your vehicle will have a factory-supplied emergency jack), wheel chock, lug wrench, (ideally) a torque wrench, and a nice pair of mechanic's gloves. It’s really impossible to discuss lug nuts without touching on tire changing. Refer to your owner's manual to determine what flat tire or wheel-changing equipment your vehicle is equipped with. Some manufacturers supply a fix-a-flat kit in lieu of a spare. ![]() Of over 5,000 reviews on Amazon, 93% are positive.ĭon't panic if your vehicle doesn't have a lug wrench or spare tire. The EPAuto lug wrench includes a storage pouch and sockets for 3/4, 13/16, and 7/8-inch (analogous to 19, 21, and 22 mm, respectively) lug nuts. ![]() We prefer this telescoping model to the more traditional plus-sign-shaped lug wrenches for several reasons: It's smaller and easier to stow, it will work with any half-inch drive socket, and since it telescopes to 19 inches, it will give extra leverage when breaking loose a stuck lug nut. The solution is simple, invest in an inexpensive aftermarket lug wrench like our pick from EPAuto. In this case, the factory lug wrench is no longer of any use. However, lug wrenches occasionally get lost in the shuffle, or if you change your factory wheels for aftermarket items, you may end up with a different size of lug nuts. We’ve also delved into the correct way to change a wheel and the tools you’ll use to do the job, like torque wrenches, jacks, and wheel chocks.Īny vehicle equipped with a spare tire will also have a factory-supplied jack and lug wrench. If so, most of the manufacturers we’ve discussed here offer a full range of products and will likely have a a set that’s right for your vehicle. While we’ve tried to present a wide range of lug nuts in this article, owing to their application-specific nature, the ones you need may not be listed. It’s a good idea to inspect your lug nuts periodically to ensure they aren’t corroded, rounded off, or otherwise damaged (check for cracks around the wheel stud holes while you’re at it). Sometimes, they have purely cosmetic chrome-plated caps applied to their exterior, which can lead to corrosion problems, or the cap slipping off and making the nut very hard to remove.īecause of their vulnerable location on the wheels, lug nuts are constantly under attack from road salt, moisture, and service “technicians” who turn the torque setting on their pneumatic impact guns to MAXIMUM. Steel is the most common material for lug nuts and lug bolts, although you will find them in aluminum as well. Instead of lug nuts, many cars, notably European makes, use a lug bolt. There are also locking or splined styles that can only be removed with a special tool or key. Some are open-ended, while others are closed. You’ll also find ball-seat, mag-seat, flat-seat, and other styles. Most alloy wheels have a 60-degree lug nut seat, and their lug nuts are tapered accordingly. Original equipment and high-quality aftermarket lug nuts will be made to exacting standards for strength and durability. These deceptively simple components are manufactured in different sizes and shapes for specific applications the type of wheel and vehicle specification dictates the style of lug nut that’s used. Of course, some alloy wheels still use a center cap to conceal the lug nuts, especially on trucks. But today, they’re often nakedly exposed thanks to the proliferation of alloy wheels on all but the least expensive cars. In the old days, it didn’t matter what lug nuts looked like because they usually lurked under full-width wheel covers or hubcaps. ![]() Besides securing the wheels, a spiffy set can enhance your vehicle’s appearance. What’s less than an inch in diameter and keeps your car’s wheels from flying off the axles? Lug nuts. ![]()
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