-
Lug nuts are the crucial element that secures a vehicle's wheels to the chassis. They can be 1/2-inch or 5 inches across and can be 2 grams of lightweight titanium or 7 pounds of high-strength steel.
History
Until about 1960 or so, many cars used left-hand threads on one side of the vehicle, reasoning that the lug nuts would loosen if the wheels they were installed or spun the wrong way.
Function
On almost all cars, the wheel slips on over a set of permanently mounted bolts called studs. Lug nuts fit over these studs and secure the wheel to the hub.
Seat Taper
Lug nuts are tapered to a conical shape on one end. This cone corresponds to a depression in the wheel and helps to lock the two together.
Open or Closed
Most lug nuts leave about an 1/2 inch of wheel stud protruding from the top. Closed lug nuts extend up past the stud to cover it, and they are used for aesthetic purposes.
One Nut
Some sports cars use a single large nut in the middle of the wheel to secure it. This is done to make tire changes faster when pitting, and it can be observed on modern Formula One cars.
Source:
Resource:
Replacing a Damaged Stud (Video)
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC