Do you guys carry six 21mm acorn type lug nuts for the spare steel wheel?

[NorthwoodsRunner]

For those of us with a steel spare wheel (TE, SR5 and TRD), do you guys carry additional six 21mm acorn type lug nuts? I know you can use Toyota mag style lug nuts for short term use but they are not optimal when you have to drive a bit to get the tire fixed/repaired. I carry six (6) 21mm McGard regular cone seat lug nuts for the spare tire. I also do this for my Camry which has Toyota OEM alloy rims. Anyone doing this?

 

[skratchd]

Always.

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[e60ral]

i have never even looked at my lugnuts (other than checking torque after new tires or rotation), are the factory lugnuts not correct for the spare?

 

[philsey]

Wait, what? Are you implying that the spare Toyota puts on my SR5 isn't compatible with the lugs nuts on the other wheels?

Incomprehensible...

 

[NorthwoodsRunner]

Wait, what? Are you implying that the spare Toyota puts on my SR5 isn't compatible with the lugs nuts on the other wheels?

Incomprehensible...

They will work but not optimal. Toyota is thinking that you will not travel too far with a spare wheel. I can easily go 100-200 miles before the repair depending on where I am at. Acorn type lug nuts are the standard nuts for steel rims.

 

[jdtaylor42]

Yeah its really dumb they dont at least provide those. I used to carry the acorn ones until I got a matching spare

 

[Saker]

Hmmmmm.......

makes me wonder the liability if Toyota placed a spare on a particular vehicle that took some other lug nut other than the ones that are on the wheels, didn't include them and nothing in the owners manual stating such.

 

[GearJunkie88]

Interesting. I wondered why the dealership gave me a bunch of extra lug nuts. I thought they figured I would loose some. Now I know what they're for!

 

[JSparky]

I do. I carry extra studs and some washers as well in case I have to replace a stud in the field. Cheap insurance.

 

[1engineer]

They will work but not optimal. Toyota is thinking that you will not travel too far with a spare wheel. I can easily go 100-200 miles before the repair depending on where I am at. Acorn type lug nuts are the standard nuts for steel rims.

Optimal? You have some type of documentation from someone who has went through the calculations or actual testing? Just curious.

 

[Throwback]

Dang. Both my 4Runner and my wife's RAV4 have aluminum wheels with full size steel spare wheels and matching tires. Neither of which have special spare lug nuts.

I'm not sure I can believe that this is some huge oversight on the part of Toyota. They're all hub centric anyway, right?

 

[Jetboy]

Nope. The OEM lugnuts are a perfect fit. For 10 miles or 1000 miles. I wouldn't think for a second about running the oem ones.

 

[PCMSF]

Woah, something that never crossed my mind.

I have aftermarket wheels with spline lug nuts, now am wondering if they will even work in a pinch (will they?) :redface:

 

[Vinsil]

Yeah...some guys think way over the top on this stuff.

 

[NorthwoodsRunner]

Optimal? You have some type of documentation from someone who has went through the calculations or actual testing? Just curious.

A great question. I have neither any documentation nor calculation to back it up. My 2014 Camry LE came with steel rims and had acorn lug nuts. I bought SE rims for my Camry and had to buy a set of mag type lug nuts. As far as I can tell (with my untrained eyes), the spare steel rim looks same as my steel rims. I am not sure what calculation I can perform (even if I were smart enough to do that). The mag type lug nuts are the best fit (IMHO) for Toyota OEM alloy rims but not necessary true (IMHO) for the steel rims. Coversely, acorn lug nuts will not be best (IMHO) for Toyota OEM alloy rims. I know there is no math behind this but please try a mag type lug nut and acorn type lug nut on a steel rim and tell me which lug nut type you prefer holding on the wheel. If you know how to perform calculation, I am willing to give it a try but you will have to go easy on me.

View attachment Installing-Alloy-Wheels.pdf

 

[Vinsil]

I have a follow up question. How many of you have had a flat tire? Serious question, I have been driving for 22 years and some of the years when I was younger...on not so great tires. Thousands of Miles off-road and some pretty hardcore stuff like crushers, moon rocks, goldendale...

I've plugged a few tires (carry a a few plug kits and always air) but never needed a spare. Now...things happen but really, I've always carried a spare but usually never a matching one and experience has told me, it's almost not an issue with proper tires and some precautions as well. Maybe I'm on borrowed time but I don't worry too much.

As for proper lugs, they will work fine to get you into a shop to fix your tire or replace. I do suggest you practice setting a bead, plugging a tire as well. It will save you!

 

[DesertCanyons]

Steel spare rim and lug nuts

This is a really good question. I hadn't thought of the lug nuts on my stock TE aluminum mag wheels not fitting the steel rims. I will be checking this tomorrow.

The most likely place to get a flat is off road when you hit a sharp object or scrape the sidewall. You can't repair a sidewall. That's where I'd want my lug nuts to fit snug and tight on the spare - on a rugged road miles from any paved road and still farther from a tire shop.

 

[Vinsil]

The most likely place to get a flat is off road when you hit a sharp object or scrape the sidewall. You can't repair a sidewall. That's where I'd want my lug nuts to fit snug and tight on the spare - on a rugged road miles from any paved road and still farther from a tire shop.

Uh, yes you can plug a sidewall. I've done it.

 

[NorthwoodsRunner]

I have an article (a documentation) from Toyota (it was dated 2004) - see page 8 about interchanging mag and conical type lug nuts.
View attachment Installing-Alloy-Wheels.pdf

 

[TK-422]

I just did this. :biggrin2: