Does lug nut length matter?

[qingcong]

I'm getting some Apex wheels and need to get new lug nuts. I'll be using Advanced wheel locks for safety. The deal with that is the Advanced wheel locks are about 1.97" long, so then it seems the rest of the lug nuts should also be roughly the same length or else it might look weird or perhaps cause a slight weight distribution imbalance? Maybe the imbalance is so minor it's not an issue, I dunno.

Also, does the length matter in general? The stock OEMs are like 1.3" long and pretty much sit flush with the wheel. I see people with aftermarket lugs that stick out super far. Are there any issues to pay attention to there, like with making sure the wheel is clamped properly?

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[ThunderPigeon]

Not as much as girth

 

[marcusm86]

its about thread engagement.. i think you need to be able to turn the nut about 9 times

 

[SP R KiD]

I'm getting some Apex wheels and need to get new lug nuts. I'll be using Advanced wheel locks for safety. The deal with that is the Advanced wheel locks are about 1.97" long, so then it seems the rest of the lug nuts should also be roughly the same length or else it might look weird or perhaps cause a slight weight distribution imbalance? Maybe the imbalance is so minor it's not an issue, I dunno.

Also, does the length matter in general? The stock OEMs are like 1.3" long and pretty much sit flush with the wheel. I see people with aftermarket lugs that stick out super far. Are there any issues to pay attention to there, like with making sure the wheel is clamped properly?

I don't know what wheels you ordered specifically (I got a set of SM-10RS in 18 inch, bronze) and was told I needed a 60 degree conical set so that way I had enough thread engagement. Apparently, these types of lug nuts are commonly required for a lot of aftermarket wheels. I don't know of anyone who has used OEM lugs on them, but since I was advised to do so I'm going to pick up a new set of lugs.

Gonna go with these since the wheels are pricey: Mishimoto Steel Locking Lug Nuts M14x1.5, 20pc Set, Black | Mishimoto. I don't think wheel locks are impervious to bad guys, but it'll be better than nothing. I usually garage during the winter but during the warm weather I do like to leave it out since I have a 1 car driveway

You can get a set without locks as well directly from apex for 2.50 a pop: Apex Open Ended Race Lug Nuts

Good luck!

Edit: I noticed I didn't actually answer your original question, so my bad. But in my opinion, the shorter the lug the better. I would think you would want the lug optimally lengthened so it is as close to the wheel/end of thread as possible. My main reasoning for this is less chances of someone being able to use a pipe wrench on locked lugs. Maybe I'm overthinking it idk.

 

[PointByPatrol]

I'm getting some Apex wheels and need to get new lug nuts. I'll be using Advanced wheel locks for safety. The deal with that is the Advanced wheel locks are about 1.97" long, so then it seems the rest of the lug nuts should also be roughly the same length or else it might look weird or perhaps cause a slight weight distribution imbalance? Maybe the imbalance is so minor it's not an issue, I dunno.

Also, does the length matter in general? The stock OEMs are like 1.3" long and pretty much sit flush with the wheel. I see people with aftermarket lugs that stick out super far. Are there any issues to pay attention to there, like with making sure the wheel is clamped properly?

I use the lugs that Apex sells. They work just fine! I get "enough" engagement with the factory studs, but I did recently order extended studs so that I get complete engagement through the nut. IIRC you'll need 10 turns for safe engagement, and I was able to get that with the factory stud.

 

[SlowAP2]

I did these for my Apex wheels. The shank fits perfect in the lug holes on the wheels. I run a 5mm spacer up front and these make that feel safe on thread engagement. Overall length from the seat isnt too much of a concern vs number of turns of thread engagement.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYC4TQ6N?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[nttran98]

So mechanically, the rule of thumb is to have the same thread engagement length as the studs diameter. Example: If your vehicle is M12x1.5 => 12 mm diameter > use 12 divide by 1.5 (dia/pitch) => 8 turns of the nut. And in the case of type R M14x1.5 its 14/1.5 = 9.3 => Round up to 10 turns.

 

[Spart]

I'm not sure why people are focusing on the number of turns for thread engagement, since that will be a function of stud length.

The lug just needs to be deep enough to not bottom out on the stud before clamping the wheel down, that's all.

I've been a fan of McGard lug nuts for years. They are used as OEM lug nuts by the likes of Toyota and BBS among others, so you can expect OEM quality.

They also make decent locks. As with any lock, ensure that an impact is never used to install or remove them.

McGard kit 65515 and 65515BK include decent locks, here's the black version: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcg-65515bk

 

[TypeRbuilder]

I run Racesang titanium lugnuts (not on to other things I guess) and use a titanium adapter 'ring'/washer that mates the conical lug to the ball seat rim. Unless you do after market, then they are conical.

 

[PNEUMA]

Wheel thieves absolutely LOVE it when you put McGard locking lugs on your high dollar wheels.

McGard should have a marketing slogan ‘ McGard wheel locks, number 1 choice amongst thieves!’

 

[TypeRD]

I'm not sure why people are focusing on the number of turns for thread engagement, since that will be a function of stud length.

The lug just needs to be deep enough to not bottom out on the stud before clamping the wheel down, that's all.

I've been a fan of McGard lug nuts for years. They are used as OEM lug nuts by the likes of Toyota and BBS among others, so you can expect OEM quality.

They also make decent locks. As with any lock, ensure that an impact is never used to install or remove them.

McGard kit 65515 and 65515BK include decent locks, here's the black version: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcg-65515bk

The focus is thread engagement because if you don’t have an enough, then the wheels can loosen from the hub and eventually come off. Both the studs and lug nuts need to be long enough to get a safe number of turns of thread engagement to hold the wheels to the hub.

The seat design doesn’t matter (round vs conical) except the lug nuts need to match. Most aftermarket wheels have a conical seat. I’m not sure why, but I imagine it is easier to machine.

 

[Spart]

The focus is thread engagement because if you don’t have an enough, then the wheels can loosen from the hub and eventually come off. Both the studs and lug nuts need to be long enough to get a safe number of turns of thread engagement to hold the wheels to the hub.

The seat design doesn’t matter (round vs conical) except they need to match the lug nuts. Most aftermarket wheels have a conical seat. I’m not sure why, but I imagine it is easier to machine.

OP asked about having lug nuts that were long enough. The correct answer here is "long enough that they bottom out on the seat of the wheel pad rather than the stud itself."

You cannot correct a lack of thread engagement with longer lug nuts. It's a non-sensical thing to bring up, and something you only typically run into when using slip-on (rather than bolt-on) spacers, which OP did not mention.

He's not going to have a lack of thread engagement with the Apex wheels he's looking at.

 

[qingcong]

OP asked about having lug nuts that were long enough. The correct answer here is "long enough that they bottom out on the seat of the wheel pad rather than the stud itself."

You cannot correct a lack of thread engagement with longer lug nuts. It's a non-sensical thing to bring up, and something you only typically run into when using slip-on (rather than bolt-on) spacers, which OP did not mention.

He's not going to have a lack of thread engagement with the Apex wheels he's looking at.

I'm mostly wondering if there is any downside to longer lug nuts.

I suppose that was not clear in my original post.

 

[TypeRD]

I'm mostly wondering if there is any downside to longer lug nuts.

I suppose that was not clear in my original post.

No downsides that I can think of. Looks are a matter of taste of course.

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