Tires have different parts and components that affect their performance and safety on the road, and one of these parts is the lug nut, which ensures your wheel stays connected to the car.
However, if you’re unfamiliar with lug nuts, you may wonder what they are and what purpose they serve. If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
What Is A Lug Nut?
A lug nut is a type of fastener used to secure the wheel of the car’s axle. Because of their function, lug nuts are an important part of your vehicle. Lug nuts vary in size, thread pitch, and taper; therefore, you need to know which ones work for your car in order for your vehicle to function properly.
To learn more about lug nuts, what they’re used for, why you need them, and whether it’s safe to drive without them, keep reading for more information!
What’s A Lug Nut Used For?
Car tires are made up of different parts, which impact how the tires perform on the road, and lug nuts are one of the most critical components, as they boost the safety of the tire.
A lug nut is a fastener that’s designed to secure the wheel hub to the threaded wheel studs on your car’s axle. They’re vital because they keep the wheel in place at all times to prevent it from coming off as you drive.
Lug nuts are primarily made of chrome-plated steel, which has corrosion resistance. However, if you own a racing car, you can get lug nuts made of titanium or anodized aluminum, which are much lighter.
Lug nuts also come in different sizes and models, which vary depending on your car model. Additionally, usually about four or five are placed in your wheel hub, and you have to remove all of them when changing tires.
How Do You Install and Remove The Lug Nuts
Installing lug nuts is much more complicated than removing them; therefore, you need to understand how to do so properly to avoid damaging them.
To remove the lug nuts, you’ll need a socket, torque, or impact wrench (a wrench helps remove and tighten the nuts so they can hold the wheel in place).
Note that it’s essential to constantly check the condition of your lug nuts, because if they’re damaged or corroded, they’ll make it difficult to remove the wheel.
Most newer car models are now fitted with a locking lug nut that comes with a wheel lock tool to remove these lug nuts (manufacturers are adding this feature to prevent tire theft). In this case, you can’t remove these lug nuts without using the wheel lock.
What Are The Different Types Of Lug Nuts?
If you’re not sure about the different types of lug nuts and their sizes, you first need to know the specific ones your car requires to avoid using the wrong lug nuts.
Your tires and car will be at a higher risk of getting into accidents if you use the wrong lug nuts. Therefore, listed below are the most common types of lug nuts to help you better understand which type fits which model:
1. Conical Seat
As the most common lug nuts, Conical Seats are easily recognizable because they’re cone-shaped lug seats. Each seat has a 60- or 45-degree taper that self-centers as the lug is tightened.
These lug nuts are also known as tapered or acorn lug nuts due to their appearance, which you’ll find in NASCAR vehicles and other motorsports.
2. Hex Nut
Hex nuts have a six-sided or hex-shaped head that’s threaded into the wheel stud to keep the wheel in place. These nuts are commonly made of chrome-plated steel, though some are also made of lighter aluminum and titanium materials.
3. Spherical Seat
Also known as ball seat lug nuts, these look like conical seat lugs but have a striking spherical seat that differentiates them.
Spherical lug nuts are quite popular and found in different car types. In addition, they’re easy to install, making your work much easier.
4. Mag Seat Lug Nuts
Mag seat lug nuts have an extended thread and a flat washer seat that make them recognizable. Therefore, during installation, they sit flush against the wheel.
These nuts earned their name because they’re made of magnesium. Additionally, they’re made using flat seats due to being economical.
5. Tuner Nuts
Tuner lug nuts also look like the conical seat nuts because they both have a taper. However, they’re different because the tuner nut needs a special tool to install and remove.
Compared to other lug nuts, these alternatives are much smaller in diameter. Since they need a key or tool, tuner nuts are much harder to steal.
6. Spline Drive
Spline Drive lug nuts have a conical seat with spline grooves on the length of the nut. Like tuner nuts, they also need a unique tool to install and remove.
Spline drive lug nuts are common in Chevy, Cadillac, and Ford vehicles, and are also commonly used on aftermarket wheels.
7. Open-Ended
Open-ended lug nuts don’t have a closed-end and are threaded on the entire length of the nut. Due to their design, the nut can run on longer wheel studs when you’re using wheel spacers.
Additionally, these lug nuts are commonly used in race cars or where wheel spacers have been used.
What’s The Difference Between A Lug Nut And A Lug Bolt?
When discussing lug nuts, most drivers might confuse them with lug bolts. Although the two parts are crucial for tire maintenance, what’s the difference between the two?
While both lug bolts and lug nuts fasten the wheel in place, lug bolts are threaded directly into the wheel hub, whereas the lug nut threads onto a wheel stud that’s fixed on the hub.
A lug bolt eliminates the need for a wheel stud, allowing the wheel and the brake rotor to be directly attached to the hub.
When changing tires, lug nuts are much easier to work with because you can place the wheel on the stud to tighten the nut.
Overall, as a car owner, you need to know which parts your car has to avoid using the wrong fasteners. If you use the wrong one, your wheel might come off when driving, increasing your chances of getting into an accident.
Is It Safe To Drive With A Missing Lug Nut?
Depending on your car type, your tires might have four, five, or six lug nuts, which are vital in holding the wheel in place as you drive.
Some car models come with a loose wheel nut indicator to warn the driver when there’s a missing or loose nut. However, some vehicles don’t have this, requiring the driver to constantly check if they’re all in order.
Due to safety concerns, car owners get concerned about driving with missing lug nuts and the risks involved.
If you’ve been driving for long with some missing lug nuts, listed below are some of the problems you might encounter:
Lug Nuts Wear-Out
Your car is fitted with the right amount of lug nuts that can handle the pressure. Therefore, when you lose some nuts, the pressure is redistributed to the remaining ones, contributing to faster wearing out.
Vehicle Wobbling
When you have a missing lug nut, the pressure becomes unevenly distributed, causing the vehicle to shake and wobble, and you’ll notice that the wobbling becomes worse as you brake, turn or accelerate.
If this goes on for longer, your wheel studs will eventually snap, and the wheel will come off. This is quite dangerous and could lead to fatalities for you and other motorists.
Wheel Bearings Damage
When your wheel hub is affected, it puts pressure on the bearings necessary for the car to function properly.
Once your bearings wear out, you’ll have to replace them as soon as possible. Replacing these bearings is more expensive than replacing a missing lug nut; therefore, you need to check constantly.
What Happens When You Use The Wrong Lug Nut?
Lug nuts are not universal and come in different shapes and sizes, meaning some drivers might run into problems by using the wrong type of lug nut.
When this happens, you’ll end up damaging your axle and wheels due to the extra pressure. Additionally, using the wrong lug nuts means your wheel is not properly secured; therefore, it could come off when driving, which is quite unsafe.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Lug Nut?
Lug nuts are available in most local auto shops; therefore, you should be able to pick the right one. The tire experts and professional mechanics are also better positioned to advise you on the correct lug nuts for your car.
On average, replacing lug nuts will cost you about $40 to $50. However, if your wheel studs also need replacing, you might end up paying more than $100, which is why it’s essential to replace the lug nuts as soon as possible to avoid incurring more costs.
To know more, you can also see our posts on what are wheel chocks, what are wheel spacers, and if you can change tires without a jack.
Conclusion
Lug nuts are a critical part of the tire because they secure the wheel in place on the car’s axle, and need to be in perfect condition for them to hold your wheel together.
Depending on your car type, lug nuts vary in size and thread pitch, so you need to know which ones fit your car to avoid using the wrong kind of lug nut.