Your car’s lug nuts are a lot like your car’s insurance policy – doing its job in silence, not thought of until needed, and cursed upon failure. They are also, like your author, routinely ignored. There is a buying demographic for aftermarket lug nuts, however, a group that mostly includes people trying to spruce up a used car or hapless DIYers who stepped on the hubcap during a tire change and sent the OEM lugs flying into oblivion.
The latter rarely happens anymore, of course, thanks to the democratization of cheap alloy wheels. Still, it’s worth taking a look at these things and noting their existence. For simplicity, we selected a cadre of lug nuts that fit a particular type of car, namely a ten-year-old Honda Civic we feel is representative of a beater that might need a bit of TLC.
Table of Contents
- Editor's Choice: Wheel Accessories Dual Coating Chrome Closed-End Lug Nuts
- SIZZER Black Finish Wheel Lug Nuts
- McGard Cone-Seat Wheel Installation Kit
- Gorilla Automotive Open End Wheel Locks
- White Knight Black Chrome Acorn Lug Nut
- MOSTPLUS Spiked Lug Nuts
- Gorilla Automotive Acorn Black Lug Kit
- UPGR8 Steel Closed Ended Wheel Lug Nuts
1. Editor's Choice: Wheel Accessories Dual Coating Chrome Closed-End Lug Nuts
Also, by selecting a single make and model, we can present an apples-to-apples comparison on pricing. Perhaps unsurprisingly, costs ebb and flow with threading patterns and overall size. These lugs are all of the M12x1.50 variety though their length varies a bit.
If all you’re looking for is a set of bog-standard lug nuts with a quartet left over for spares, this is a good option. Costing well under 20 bucks, these closed-end acorn-style fasteners is said to be double nickel-plated to outlast 48 hours of salt spray (so, two days in your author’s hometown). Pushing aside the snark, nearly 500 customers have given these things an average 4.6 of 5 stars.
2. SIZZER Black Finish Wheel Lug Nuts
It’s also worth noting that some lug nuts, like these, have a seat while others sit flush. In other words, check your application before hitting the ‘buy now’ button especially if you’ve treated your car to a set of aftermarket wheels. The latter sometimes require special nuts.
This option is black in color for those of us who like a car that’s been dipped in a pot of inky black paint. The seller says this product’s heat-treated steel is subsequently triple chrome coated for exceptional appearance and corrosion resistance. The promise that these lugs are shipped in a foam tray, meaning they don’t knock together during transport, is appealing.
3. McGard Cone-Seat Wheel Installation Kit
A ‘wheel installation kit’ – how fancy. Beyond the marketing chaff, we find a package that includes 16 standard lug nuts to fit our fictional beater car, 4 wheel locks, a key for said wheel locks, and a storage pouch for that key. The ‘installation kit’ wording might be a bit over the top but there’s no denying this box contains all the hardware that you need to install 4 wheels and tires.
Well, except for the tire iron, of course. McGard is probably one of the most recognized brand names on this list, thanks to a network of car dealers who grotesquely overcharge for a set of these things in the business office. If your vehicle came with wheel locks right off the showroom floor, chances are there’s a McGard package floating somewhere around its interior.
4. Gorilla Automotive Open End Wheel Locks
Okay; now we’ve broached the subject of wheel locks, it is prudent to mention that if an underworld criminal really wants the wheels on your car, they’re likely to take them no matter how many locks are on each wheel. These things are an excellent deterrent, however.
This package only includes a quartet of locks and not a full set of lugs, it must be noted. They are also of the open end design, which can ruin an aesthetic of you care about that type of stuff. If you have these things and are parked next to a car that doesn’t, thieves will likely choose the path of least resistance
5. White Knight Black Chrome Acorn Lug Nut
In a fit of up-is-down and left-is-right, these lug nuts are black chrome but sold by a company with ‘white’ in its name. Plain silver variants are also available, of course. Even though these are said to fit our fictional Honda, it comes in a pack of 20.
Like others on this list, these are bulge acorn style with a conical seat, all of which sounds like instructions to a squirrel storing away food for the winter but actually refers to the product’s shape and size. It does specify these are for ‘aftermarket wheels only’.
6. MOSTPLUS Spiked Lug Nuts
Did I just link to what is possibly the most annoying set of lug nuts on the planet? As Sarah Palin used to say – yewbetcha. Available in a variety of colors, these Mad Max fasteners will surely offend those wheel-ogling Methodists that live down your street.
Reviews are middling, as a lot of people seem to think the lug nuts themselves are of high quality but the paint is not. Since color and maximum annoyance are the whole point of buying these things, that’s kinda disappointing.
7. Gorilla Automotive Acorn Black Lug Kit
Yes, nitpickers, we’ve already covered a kit from Gorilla and a couple of dark chrome options on this list. However, this option is worth a mention for its apparent robustness; customers report that the color remains on these things even when hit with an impact wrench.
Contrast that with several other lug nut options that will twist off or get damaged if anything other than hand tools are used. A key is included here thanks to the lug’s unique exterior design, which kinda sorta makes all 20 of these things wheel locks (we, know – not really).
8. UPGR8 Steel Closed Ended Wheel Lug Nuts
Up Great? You Pee Great? Whatever the actual brand name, these lug nuts have a distinctive finish that will be recognized by anyone who’s played around with the paint tool in Forza Horizon. This is a pack of 20, with a key.
Ratings are favorable – 4.4 out of 5 stars – and the seller lists a remarkably long return window. These style lugs from this manufacturer are also available in black chrome and silver chrome finishes should you be of a boring disposition with absolutely no imagination at all.
FAQs
What lug nuts are the best?
Although people may have varied opinions about what they consider ‘the best’ and the size that is compatible with your car might be different as well, the following few lug nut types have a decent number of positive reviews on Amazon:
- Gorilla Automotive 21123BC (Buy here!)
- DPAccessories D3116-HD-2305/20 20 (Buy here!)
- YITAMOTOR Lug Nuts 12 x 1.5 Black (Buy here!)
The lug nuts listed above might be of the size that wouldn’t fit your vehicle. However, the idea is to check the quality of the products that the brand manufactures. If the lug nuts’ set of one size from a brand is good, it is safe to assume that all the other products from that vendor would be of decent quality as well.
Is there a difference in lug nuts?
Yes, lug nuts are of different types. To be precise, there are nine types of lug nuts. Their kinds along with a brief introduction are as follows:
- Conical Lug Nuts
These are the most common lug nuts that you will see. Because of the cone-shaped seats, conical lug nuts are sometimes also referred to as acorn lug nuts or tapered seat lug nuts. Generally, conical lug nuts are manufactured for aftermarket wheels.
- Spherical Lug Nuts
As the name suggests, the spherical lug nuts have rounded lug seats. These are sometimes also referred to as wheel nuts or ball seat nuts and can be installed without the use of any washer or wheel lock key. A 19mm wrench is used to work on these lug nuts.
- Flat Seat Lug Nuts
These lug nuts sit flat on the body upon installation and usually need a bit of professional understanding of the process. Flat seat lug nuts also need some amount of extra effort while installing and uninstalling.
- Mag Seat Lug Nuts
Mag seat lug nuts have an extended thread to make their installation and uninstallation pretty convenient. Because these lug nuts come with a washer seat that is flat in nature, they sit flush against the body they are installed on.
- Extended Thread Lug Nuts
The extended thread in these lug nuts is a bit different than what you get in mag seat lug nuts. As compared to others, the extended thread lug nuts offer a better grip for easy and effortless installation and uninstallation.
- Small Diameter Spline Drive Lug Nuts
Although these lug nuts are mostly used in aftermarket wheels, many times they can be seen in Ford, Chevy, and Cadillac cars. Due to the spline grooves, a special key is used to install and uninstall these lug nuts.
- Tuner Style Lug Nuts
Although these lug nuts also have a conical seat, they can be uninstalled using a special key that is usually shipped along with the nuts. In addition, the key can be bought separately from any spare parts store.
- Left-Hand Threaded Lug Nuts
Unlike the right-hand threaded lug nuts, these are not commonly available at any random shop. The reason is, not many vehicles use these lug nuts, and they can be seen only in some bikes and classic cars. You can identify a Left-Hand Threaded lug nut if there’s ‘L’ or ‘LHT’ stamped on it. When you need these nuts, conducting an online search would be a good and time-saving approach.
- Lug Bolts
These lug nuts have studs attached to them. Lug bolts are generally used if a vehicle has a flat rotor without any studs.
Does it matter what lug nuts I use?
Yes, it does. If you are using the lug nuts of accurate size and from a reputed brand, preferably from the one recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer, you can be assured that the wheels are installed correctly and securely to ensure a safe journey.
Are steel lug nuts good?
Yes. In fact, you should prefer using steel lug nuts over those of aluminum wherever possible. Some of the reasons why steel lug nuts are considered comparatively good include:
- They are durable
- They are dielectric corrosion-proof
- They have higher torque specs
However, a few things that you might find a bit disappointing in steel lug nuts could be:
- They come only in chrome and black colors
- They are heavier than the aluminum lug nuts
From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.
(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Rental Reviews, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)
[Main Photo Credit: Smile Fight/Shutterstock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]
It’s McGard. Period. Maybe Gorilla, but I’m not as familiar with them.
Toyota sells a lot of rebranded McGard products, like wheel locks, spare tire locks, etc.
McGard has a lot of OEM business. I was happy with the Gorillas shown in #7, the finished lasted for the years I had the car with them.
“hapless DIYers who stepped on the hubcap during a tire change and sent the OEM lugs flying into oblivion”
Old, old joke – stop me if you’ve heard this one:
Guy is out for a drive, has a flat, stops to change it, looks up and notices that he is stopped outside the fenceline of the local psychiatric hospital. Continues working, grabs the spare tire, and bam! steps on the hubcap. All five lug nuts go rolling into the sewer grate. Argh! – what to do, what to do…
“Excuse me sir,” comes a voice from the other side of the fence. “What you want to do is, take one lug nut off of each of the other four wheels, put those on the one wheel, you’ll have four lug nuts on each wheel to get you home [no hard stops, he might have added], then order some new lug nuts.”
“Wow, thank you!” the guy replies. “That is a genius idea!”
The patient answers: “Hey, I may be crazy (motioning to the building behind him), but I ain’t stupid.”
““Hey, I may be crazy but I ain’t stupid.”
Why this phrase sounds so familiar to me?
In real life that fella will not be able to unscrew nuts in the first place. It happened to me. After that I had to replace all nuts with new non OEM (because OEM are made in China and suck). Not me of course but mechanic in the dealership because he had tools and experience. it is a common failure with modern cars with alloy wheels.
If anyone wants to know how to remove locking lugs nuts from your car when you’ve lost the key, or when your wife accidentally threw them away, I have some experience in that area…
How did you do it? (This is a recurring nightmare for me.)
[My current “plan” involves fluorescent orange paint on the ‘key’ in the plastic bag in the glove compartment with the registration and insurance info, and a second ‘key’ in a tool drawer in the garage, but we know about “plans” and first contact with the enemy/entropy.]
After much trial and error, take a 12-point deep socket just slightly smaller than the diameter of the locking lug – and pound it on to the locking lug with a hammer. You will distort and ruin the socket of course, but it will grip the locking lug and you’ll be able to unscrew it. I needed two sockets to get all four off my car. It wasn’t pretty but it effective. You ruin the sockets and the locking lugs of course, but it worked.
Step 1 – don’t put locking nuts on your car
Step 2 – see step 1
I’d love to know the actual stats on wheels stolen vs lost keys… I bet its 10 to 1 in favor of the keys being missing instead of the wheels.
I took my ’88 Blazer in for a brake job at a garage I had been going to for years. I had a set of dealer installed Gorilla locking lugs on it, and somehow, he lost the key. The tech/owner had a bad temper and I got to hear it on the phone when he called me, and again when I picked it up. I had been going to that place for nearly 15 years and had never seen it as clean as it was after he tore it apart looking for that key. He never did find it, and since he was kind of at war with his son in law/employee, I always thought the son in law took it just to set him off, but I don’t know for sure.
“For simplicity, we selected a cadre of lug nuts that fit a particular type of car, namely a ten-year-old Honda Civic we feel is representative of a beater that might need a bit of TLC.”
Not picking a Panther or H-body costs you like half your TTAC gold.
Yeah Panther is the way to go since that size also covers decades of all sorts of Fords and a number of other brands as well.
This should be called “The Top Eight Lug Nuts Sold On Amazon, According to the Ratings*”
*We get a spiff if you click on “Shop Here” to buy them, which is the only reason why this article was written in the first place.
This “journalism” is the easiest, laziest kind to write, and the author didn’t even have to touch any of the items “reviewed”. One star.
You must be new. This is the boring filler junk to pay the server bills, so they can post about time-capsule grandma Buicks.
2 critical things to know about lug nuts.
1. Tapered seat vs ball seat. The nuts shown here have a tapered seat. That is, the part of the nut that contacts the wheel is conical. Some cars have a ball seat. That is the part of the nut that contacts the wheel is part of a hemisphere. Audis and Bentleys use a ball seat, and maybe some others. Use the wrong one and the wheels may be damaged, and possibly have a catastrophic failure.
2. Solid vs 2 piece nuts. Some nuts are solid steel, perhaps plated or painted. Some nuts have a steel nut, clad with a thing stainless steel cover for styling. 2 piece nuts fail when they are being removed because the thin and soft cover deforms, and the socket won’t turn the nut. Lots of Fords have recently used 2 piece nuts, and have had lots of recalls. GM used this design in the 70s and 80s, and finally gave up. This defect is usually discovered when trying to change a tire on a wet, dark night.
I can conclude that Ford engineers never tried “to change a tire on a wet, dark night.”
The ball seat type are usually bolts, anyway, right? Not nuts on studs. I know that Audi and Mercedes-Benz use bolts, and some others, too (like Fiat).
The vast majority of vehicles sold in the US for the last umpteen years have used the tapered “acorn” nuts. There are exceptions, like the occasional European fetish for ball seats, or Toyota holding on to “mag” style shank nuts for a surprisingly long time.
The Toyota shank style with the separate (captive) washer are good, because the friction when tightening happens between the nut and the washer, resulting in less galling of the aluminum surface of the wheel. Also there’s more accurate torquing.
So… was hoping to find a review of another type of lug nut, the one i care about is the aluminum ones that are approx .7 times the weight of the steel ones – i know this sounds crazy but when i put on my summer rims on my UNDERPOWERED subaru, i go with the lightest wheels that are OEM for my model that shipped for my model’s span in years of my car and EXPENSIVE japanese Al lugs that save me weight on my wheels
to whit – changing from my OEM steelies to OEM alloys saved my like 7 lbs per wheel and changing from the OEM lugs to the japanese ones saved my an additional 1/4 lb per wheel – it’s nitpicking i know but i swear every lb saved on the wheels translates to better handling
and yes i’m aware that AL rusts and is softer but i use them on my 3/4 year tires and not the winters (which are also on lighter OEM alloys but with OEM lugs) – and i’m also aware that colour is an important factor but weight is always something i consider when i’m purchasing something for MY car – and that’s where this article missed the boat for me :(
Aluminum doesn’t rust, this is one of its advantages, along with weight savings. The problem is the softness.
What to save weight and have strength? Then get some Titanium lugs, they are expensive however.
Oh, do tell us how you came to believe aluminum rusts.
When I replaced the wheels on my ’95 Legend I also needed to replace the lug nuts, since the 15″ wheels use open-back nuts hidden under a cover but the 16″ wheels use exposed closed-back nuts. I got McGard, since they had an easily available direct OEM replacement. So far they are holding the wheels on so I guess they’re fine.
I have to give a shout out to Les Schwab Tires when it comes to lug nuts. The price is competitive, the quality seems superb, and they stand behind them.
When I picked up my new set for our aging Sienna with easily-rounded OEM nuts, they insisted on installing one of the new nuts to make sure it fit correctly.
Class act from a place whose tires I disparage, I’m embarrassed to admit.
No discussion of lug nuts can be complete without Sam Behr’s “Lug Nuts” commercial for Allied Discount Tires.
No discussion of lug nuts can be complete without Sam Behr’s “Lug Nuts” commercial for Allied Discount Tires.
Search for on YouTube.