lugnuts

[traitor]

why do we have these big honkin' lug nuts, can we use some Rays or something else on factory wheels?

[autxr]

Don't have a good answer, Toyota has been using the same lug nuts on their alloys since the early 70's (I have a set from my '78 Celica that are identical).

Anyhow, I would stick with the Toyota ones. I have never seen an aftermarket lug nut or one from any other OEM source that is nearly as good as Toyota. Look how they go on, the wheel actually rides on the lug nut, about 3/4 of an inch of it. The end of the nut never actually seats, the flat washer does.

I've seen a Type R lug nut, it is just a little cone on the end like my $75 rage wheels. Cheap, cheap, cheap. The wheel is much more difficult to get centered, and makes hub centric wheels more critical. The Toyota wheels are very secure, being both lug and hub centric.

Scott

[traitor]

they are just real heavy, is there any real advantage to the ring thingy that is on them. I was thinking of ways to remove weight and that seems like a good one. it has to be the strangest way I have ever seen to secure a wheel, I agree that is does seem sturdy.

[nxracer]

Don't eat lunch. Two weeks ago I lost an event by 1 McDonalds hash brown

Yep .001 seconds.

But really the ounce or two saved by the lug nuts or even 3 or 4 pounds some people are looking to save per wheel is really insignificant in autocrossing. Back to losing by .001... That day I was on Hoosiers and Toyota wheels, Paul was on BFG's and Team Dynamic wheels. A Toyota GT alloy is about 16.5 pounds and the Team Dynamic wheel on Pauls car is about 17.5 pounds, I also believe a Hoosier weighs less than a BFG so why did I lose by .001... He flat out drove me.

Personally I like the Toyota lug nuts, they make changing tires so much easier.

[Phil C]

Ah...but they are awfully expensive, $4.50 each, since you have to go to a dealer when you lose one changing those tires. They go along with the $1.79 for the little plastic clips that hold the under tray on which also seem to act a lot like a sock in the dryer every time I change my oil.

[scapamouche]

You noticed that, Paul?

When I got mine back fromt he engine work on Saturday, the underbody plastics rattled on the highway.

Turns out that there were 9 missing fasteners on them. Hmmmm. How did that happen? I went and bought 4 of them last month and made sure that ALL the holes were properly fastened.