Is this lug nut and rim taper wear normal

WALLY AB

MEMBER
2013 KIA RIO
85,000 MILES

I've noticed that my tapers on the rim are a little ground down from the nuts. Should I be concerned or is this normal? I usually torque the wheels.

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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 2:58 AM

6 Replies

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello, I'm Danny.

I would definitely check quite often. Usually that happens from incorrect torque or incorrect lug nuts. Keep monitoring to make sure the lug nuts don't loosen and have an opportunity to lose the wheel assembly while driving. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 3:32 AM

ASEMASTER6371

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52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

Just to throw in my 2 cents, I do not like the rim at all. The holes are damaged from either the wrong lug nuts or loose lug nuts.

Saying that I would replace the studs, nuts, and the wheel. The lug nuts look to be too deep. I am thinking that the lug nuts are bottoming out and the wheel is not tight.

Roy

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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 3:50 AM

WALLY AB

MEMBER
97 POSTS

These are the factory lug nuts and steel rims. I first noticed about two years ago these tapers on the lug nuts. I put 4 Dorman wheel nuts on the other side for comparison, and none of them have a taper. The front two wheels are okay with the taper. It's only the left rear tire I noticed gouged a little from the lug nuts. I believe it's because one stud is a little stripped, and the metal shavings get caught in the taper.

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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 9:31 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

That would make sense.

I would replace the studs, lugs and the wheel as I suggested.

Roy

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Sunday, July 12th, 2020 AT 9:38 AM

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello again.

One thing you might want to try is put the left rear rim and tire-the gouged one on and torque to specification you have in the past. Raise the tire off the ground and see if there is any movement-play. If it does you will know if there excessive gouging or the wrong-excessively damaged lug nuts. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-