In as much as wheels are at the bottom of the vehicle, they are one of the most important elements of a vehicle. The use of aftermarket wheels has grown in recent years.
OEM wheels are more expensive; no one will want to spend more money on an item when you can get a cheaper and equally useful alternative.
However, in the process of getting your aftermarket wheels, you will need lug nuts to fasten them. That brings the question, “what lug nuts do I need for aftermarket wheels?”
The choice of lug nuts to use when installing your aftermarket wheels depends on the size of the wheel and the type of seat of the wheel. The size of the aftermarket wheel and the type of seat of the wheel determine the lug nuts to be used. However, it is appropriate to use the right lug nuts.
What are Aftermarket Wheels?
Aftermarket wheels are quite different from OEM wheels. What do OEM wheels mean? OEM wheels are constructed by the Original Equipment Manufacturer and they are the same in size, type, and feel as the wheel that came with the car when you bought it.
On the other hand, aftermarket wheels are made by independent manufacturers and are designed to be used by different vehicles.
In plain terms, any wheel that is not made by the original equipment manufacturer is described as an aftermarket wheel.
Do You Need Special Lug Nuts for Aftermarket Wheels?
If you make use of aftermarket wheels, there is a high probability that you will need aftermarket lug nuts. Many of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s lug nuts are not made to be used with aftermarket wheels because the thread pitch, types of seat, and length are possible to have been changed.
What Lug Nuts Do I Need for Aftermarket Wheels?
To choose the lug nuts you will need for aftermarket wheels, you have to consider two things:
Size
When you talk about size, you are referring to the measurement of the lug nut, the thread size, and the thread pitch. Thread size is all about the diameter of the stud that the lug will be attached to. The recommended lug size is always stated in the manual of the vehicle.
Seat
When you talk about the seat, it means the area where the lug nut will come in contact with the surface of the wheel. There are three styles of seats in place.
- The Ball seat
- The Mag seat
- The Conical seat
The lug nuts you will choose for your aftermarket wheels depend on all of them stated above. And you can drive with 4 out of 5 lug nuts as long as you are not going to a far distance.
Can You Use Different Lug Nuts on Wheels?
It is advised by professionals, that the same set of lug nuts should be maintained on wheels throughout. You can only use different lug nuts on wheels if they have the same thread strength, are installed at the same time, and stretch at the same rate.
You need to be sure what kind of seat the wheel has and be sure that it will fit the stud and the wheel before you can use different lug nuts.
While most aftermarket wheels use a conical seat, most Tuner lug nuts have conical seats. It is advised to make use of Tuner lug nuts when switching to aftermarket wheels.
Never use a spherical lug nut on a conical when or a conical lug nut on a spherical wheel.
Use the same lugs on your wheels to prevent disasters from occurring. Failure to do this might cause your vehicle to vibrate and shake abnormally because the lug nuts have been loosened.
What Do 14×2 Lug Nuts Fit?
Apparently, 14 x 2 lug nut fits wheels with conical seats.
Can I Use OEM Bolts on Aftermarket Wheels?
Actually, some aftermarket wheels are designed to make use of Original Equipment Manufacturer bolts, some other aftermarket wheels might need a new set of bolts for them to fit.
What are the Purposes of Lug Nuts?
Before you talk about the purposes of a lug nut, you need to define what a lug nut is. A lug nut is a fastener with one of its ends rounded or tapered.
Lug nuts are used to secure a wheel in place by fastening the hub of the wheel to the threaded wheel studs. It helps in properly aligning the wheel to the center of the axle.
Before you decide what size and model of lug nuts you will need for a car, you have to consider the car model itself and the type of axle it uses.
As small as a lug nut is, it is important in keeping your tires fastened to the hub. Purposes of Lug Nuts are listed here:
1. Prevents Stretching of Wheel Studs
When the lug nuts are in place and tightened well, there would not be any strain on the wheel studs. If wheel studs are strained, the metal will be put under heavy stress that can lead to a break of the studs.
2. Balances the Wheel
When the lug nuts are firmly in place, the wheels will be firm too. Loose wheels shakes and this movement is not enjoyable for any driver or rider. Lug nuts help to keep wheels firm and steady.
3. Prevents Damage to Brake Rotors
Lug nuts are used to maintain the proper motion of the wheel. If the lug nuts are not in place, you cannot imagine how the wheel will be.
It also helps the brake rotors. If the brake rotors are damaged, you will not be able to control the vehicle while braking. It will also surprise you to know that it is expensive to repair a damaged brake rotor.
Do Aftermarket Wheels Worth it?
The answer to this question depends on the type of wheels you use in your vehicle and the purpose of the vehicle. If you have a goal of getting the rotational mass/weight reduced and you use steel wheels at the moment, you should know that the use of aftermarket wheels is worth it as long as they are aluminum.
But if you are thinking of getting aftermarket wheels for your vehicle so that the value will increase, you have missed the point entirely.
The value of your car’s appearance differs from person to person. What you rate high may be what someone rates low.
If you want to sell your vehicle and you install aftermarket wheels with the aim that a buyer will purchase it at a higher price, that is a gamble. The buyer might buy it at a normal price still or buy it at your intended price.
The buyer might not even like the aftermarket wheels and that might delay the sale of your vehicle. So, aftermarket wheels might be worth it depending on the purpose for which you want to use them.
Final Thoughts
It is important that the right lug nuts are used in the installation of aftermarket wheels. Not just the right lug nuts, but the type of lug nuts used has to be uniform all through. If this is not done, there is the possibility of the nuts coming off when in motion. This is very risky and you do not want to be a victim of what comes next. So, ensure you use the right lug nuts when fixing your aftermarket wheels.