Is anybody running stock lugs on their WRX with Rotas?

Yes I've read the page on subydude about not using stock lugs, but then I have seen a pic on Oakos' page
and it looks like the stock lug nuts would work.

Anybody know how well the stock nuts would work for say, 300 miles?

Is anyone here using stock WRX lugnuts on rotas? If so have you had any problems?

 

my friend is using stock lugs on his rotas... been at least 4-6 mo. already

 

The difference is on the aftermarket lugs the area that contacts the wheel is flat as is the contact area on the wheel. This give surface contact over a greater area. This is good because the load is spread over a larger area. The stock lugs are curved where they touch the wheel. The stock wheel is curved also where the lug makes contact, so you have surface contact. Rotas have a flat area where the lugs contact the wheel and using stock curved lugs creats a line contact. This is bad becuase it concentrates the load in a very small area on the wheel. The line contact can cause damage to the wheel as the lug digs into the wheel. THis causes damage to the wheel and could cause the lugs to loosen.

Whats spending a few bucks on the correct lugs after you have spend $1000 on new wheels and tires? $25,000 car, $1000 wheels/tires and $2 lugs?

JMHO

 

Does he drive agressivley at all?


Also to other folks, have you ever had a wheel fall off because you used stock lugs?

 

Not to flame, but thats the same info on subydude. Did you see the pic posted above?
The stock lug contact area doesn't look round to me, so at a glance I would guess that the stock lugs would be fine for a while.

What I am looking for is people that are using rota rims with the stock lugs,
and/or people that used stock lugs and had their wheels fall off, or something BAD happen.

I want facts and true stories, not what so and so told me.

Again, not to flame, I am just looking for answers.

 

Not to flame or anything, but I can tell from the picture you posted that the contact area on the stock lugs is rounded. One way to tell for sure would be to take a lug off your car, and use a straight edge to check if the contact area is flat or not. Then you would get your fact. If it is rounded, it shouldn't matter wheather or not other people have had bad things happen; you want more contact than one line around the lug. That is another fact: less contact than the rims/lugs are designed for is bad. Again, not to flame or anything...

 

Beyond that "contact" issue.....

Some Rota (and other aftermarket wheels) are such that you can't use a stock lugnut because you can't actually get a socket on the lug . I know that is the case with my Tarmac IIs, and it is somewhat true with my SDRs (you can get the socket PARTWAY on, but not well on there.....hello, rounded off lugnuts when you try to torque them ).

The old Formels I had worked fine with stock lugs. The old Slipstreams I had, you HAD to use the aftermarket lugs.

Moral of the story : get the right lugnuts

 

I know that the more surface area, the better, and yes I am going to get the right lugs (ZOEB!!!! hehe), but I am impatient and want to drive and my new wheels.
Im not doing like track rallying or anything like that, just cruzing HWY 17 to/from work, and a little back road driving (no not dirt, and not the other back road ;P ) until the lugs get to me next week.

 

I had the stock lugs on my Downshifts for about 8 months or so (until I was tipped off that it wasn't the thing to do), and I drove pretty aggressively at times. Nothing bad ever happened, and chances are you'll be just fine for 300 miles or so, but I wouldn't use them in the long run for all the reasons stated above.

 

hi,

first i just want to let you know that this is not a 'rota thing' this is an industry thing.... most stock cars run lugs that have a rounded contact point... and most aftermarket wheels run a contact point that is flat/tappered.

this is obviously blown up...





your stock lugs will work... aftermarket lugs work better.

happy friday!

SD

 

thank you all for your input, I feel confident now that driving for a couple days with the stock lugs wont kill me, though there is a chance, its unlikely. I will torque them down by hand first, then tomorrow to my friends house who has an impact wrench to make sure they are on tight.

Then once zoeb sends me his nuts ;P I will put those on.

 

Using an impact gun to torque down lugs on an aluminum wheel is not a great idea as it can "dig" into the wheel and can over torque very easily. You should only use an impact gun to get the lugs down snug, then torque by hand. Go to ANY wheel shop and this is how they do it, depite the fact it takes longer, because it is safer for the wheels. Just go buy one of those cheap torque wrenches at Kragen. They are like $10 bucks and are well worth it in the long run. (disclaimer: the cheap ones are VERY inaccurate and should only be used on wheels IMO. Buy the better "clicking" type for more finite torque measurments.)

http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...egoryCode=3418

-Chris

 

DEFINATELY don't overtorque your lugs. You can damage your wheel, or even break your studs. I've seen it happen as I work @ America's Tire Co. Yes, we use impacts, but we have torque sticks that allow only up to 75 ft/lbs of torque to make sure we don't overtorque the lugs. Just as a reminder Subaru's torque specs are 75.


EDIT: My friend is on the SDRs and he used stock lugs as he couldn't get aftermarket ones right away. They did work, but he just didn't feel safe on it. If I ran wheels that said they needed aftermarket lugs, I'd definately pay the extra $$ for it. (though since I'm just repeating what everyone else has said).

 

America's Tire Represent! That was my first Job when I first graduated highschool. I only worked there for like 6 months, but it was a good experience. We were the number 1 store in California (Antioch store) which meant nice fat monthly bonus checks.

-Chris