Bolts for alloy wheels

[chelsea25]

I have just purchased some second hand alloy wheels to replace my boring old steelies, the alloys don't come with bolts though, is it ok to just use my old bolts, or do i need to buy some new ones especially for alloy wheels?

Hope you can help? :)

[tigga]

They shoul be replaced with nuts for alloys for a number of reasons, - alloy wheels are thicker therefore the screws need to be longer in order to have enough of the screw fixing the wheels on - alloy corrodes when in contact with certain metals so the correct nuts are either made from appropriate metal or have a collar on to prevent this contact.

in my experience, they DO come loose !

[tigga]

if you dont get the apporpriate nuts.

[c00ky83]

Normal nuts do work, as I changed mine straight over.  However, I was told I shouldn't have, and got a set off Ebay for about �6.  Basically, they have an angled bit which embeds into the holes and a shiny cover on t'other end.  Now that's technical!

[v64paul]

as you so eloquently put it, the angled bit is different it is much broader to prevent the sort of problems that tigga describes. the standard nuts may work but just dont drive your car any where near me...