The wheels of a car are important parts of the car. You cannot have a good driving experience in comfort and convenience if the wheels are bad. Would you enjoy a ride where the tires are shaky and produce rumbling noises?
So, it is important to maintain the wheels of your car. Lug nuts are used to hold the wheel firmly in place. It is important to use the right lug nuts for wheels. So, do I need new lug nuts for new wheels?
As long as the new wheels are aftermarket wheels, you need new lug nuts because aftermarket wheels require their own lug nuts which do not fit with the stock lug nuts. Therefore, you’ll need to purchase new lug nuts that can fit in the new wheels.
What is a New Wheel?
The wheel of a car is the circular object which is placed underneath the car to enable it to move smoothly along the ground.
Collins Dictionary defines a wheel as a solid disc, or a rim (circular in nature) that is attached to a hub by radial or tangential spokes, mounted on a shaft that allows it to turn, usually in vehicles and machines.
The internal part of the tires you can see is what is called a wheel. And so, a new wheel is a brand-new object attached to a hub by spokes to allow it to rotate properly along the road.
Wheels are important elements of cars because a car cannot be driven without its wheels. The overall look and performance of your car depend on the wheels.
Why new wheels? New wheels bring out the beauty of your car. Wheels come in different sizes, materials, and sizes as you know.
The wheel is not a single part, as you might be thinking. A wheel comprises other parts such as the disc, rim, hub, spokes, and the tire itself.
New wheels are made using different methods. Actually, the process by which a new wheel is made depends on the structure of the wheel and the material of the wheel.
Some of the methods used to produce new wheels are listed below:
- Forging
- Casting
- Flow forming
- Rotary forging
Some car owners fail to pay much attention to the wheels of their cars. Little do they know, the wheels do not just help with holding the tires in place firmly but they assist with handling.
Wheels are not life-long, they can be damaged at any time and they can wear out as well.
Be on the lookout for certain signs such as breaking or handling problems. It shows that your wheels will need to be replaced. A broken wheel can lead to a sudden blowout on the road which is obviously very dangerous.
Do I Need New Lug Nuts for New Wheels?
Yes, you will need to purchase or get new lug nuts for the new wheels of your car. Lug nuts are usually attached to the stud of the wheel and not the wheel itself. In the normal process, the studs do not change when you get new wheels except if you need extended studs.
Most wheels need a narrow lug nut to fit into the hole. As you probably know already, there are different types of lug seats.
There is a flat and conical lug seat. Aftermarket wheels are usually produced with conical seats and OEM wheels can come with any of the types of lug seats.
If you are unsure of the type of lug seat your car needs, you might want to take one of the lug nuts off to ascertain what lug seat is needed.
You need to purchase lug nuts that match the seat of your wheels. If you use a lug nut with the incorrect lug seat, you risk damaging your brand new wheels.
If you are still unsure about the type of lug nut to use on your new wheels, you should get in touch with the wheels manufacturer to see what they require.
Some brand new wheels are designed to be used with other lug nuts or bolts, but others will need brand new lug nuts especially if the seat of the lug is different.
How Much Does It Cost to Get New Lug Nuts?
It costs about a hundred and three dollars ($103) and a hundred and twenty-eight dollars ($128) to replace the lug stud of a wheel.
Of course, the cost of workmanship is not factored into this. That can cost as much as a hundred and twenty dollars ($120). Other costs for taxes and miscellaneous might be added to this as well.
Can You Use the Same Lug Nuts on Different Wheels?
The lug nuts you use for wheels depend on the type of lug seat the wheel uses. So far the seats of the wheels have the same shape and size, you can use the same lug nut for them.
If the lug nuts do not fit, then there’s no need to use them, but if it fits perfectly, then you can comfortably use the same lug nuts on different wheels.
However, note that if you use the wrong lug nut for a lug seat, you risk damaging the wheel of the car.
How Often Should Wheel Lug Nuts be Replaced?
It is quite difficult to state an exact point where lug nuts will need to be replaced because you cannot predict how a vehicle is used and the route it takes.
But it has been stated by wheel experts that the lug nuts of a wheel should be re-torqued every 10,000 miles for effective maintenance.
Advantages of Buying New Wheels
The wheels of a car go a long way in maintaining the overall condition of the car. Notwithstanding, it is important to replace worn-out wheels when necessary.
New wheels give the car a whole new feel (with respect to driving experience), better traction, and a decrease in the risk of accidents while driving.
When you think about the benefits of getting new wheels for your car, you will ignore the cost and go ahead with replacing those old wheels. Subsequently, some of the advantages of buying new wheels will be discussed.
- New wheels guarantee safety while driving
- New wheels provide the car with better traction
- New wheels lead to better gas mileage
- Overall, new wheels will improve the driving experience
1. Safety while Driving
Safety should be at the forefront of every driver’s mind. You do not want to be a victim of accidents due to negligence on your part.
After using either high-speed or regular balancing for your wheels, you need to ensure the lug nuts fit perfectly for safety purposes.
You are responsible for the safety of anyone who rides in your car so you need to pay attention to the wheels of your vehicle.
2. Better Traction
New wheels make it easy for a driver to turn, move and stop a vehicle without difficulty. Because the wheels are new, it will aid the tire in getting a stronger grip on the surface of the road.
New wheels will prevent skids and slides on the road even in difficult situations like heavy rain, snow, or hail.
3. Better Gas Mileage
New wheels have a direct connection with the tires of the car. Old wheels make it quite hard for drivers to conveniently move the car. That leads to an increase in fuel consumption.
When the wheels are replaced, movement is easy and less fuel is consumed. So new wheels directly influence fuel efficiency
4. Improves Overall Driving Experience
Just as worn-out wheels make it difficult for drivers to accelerate and move the car properly, the driving experience feel is improved when the wheels are replaced with new ones. You get a smooth and comfortable ride, with less noise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, no car will ride smoothly with wobbly wheels. Lug nuts are what hold the wheels firmly to avoid wobbles. If a wrong lug nut is used on a wheel, it will cause wobbles along the ride and it can lead to serious accidents (in the case of overspeeding). If in doubt, always make sure you use new lug nuts for new wheels.