I bought some snow tires mounted on the standard ugly F150 steel rims. They are the ones that apparently used to be sold by tirerack back a few years ago, but they're 14mm stud-ready and fit on the hub fine. I just tried putting them on, but my factory lugs are too short to secure the wheel to the hub.

I don't think I can use spacers, since the hub centerline only extends barely far enough to seat the wheel. And I can't find any open-ended or extended length 14mm lugs on Jegs.

Are there washers I can put between the seat of the lugs and the wheel or is that too dangerous?

We're set to get up to 12" by tomorrow night, and there's already an inch on the ground now.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Actually, I think I've found my answer. Apparently if my local stores don't carry 14mm open ended lugs they are available via special order. No winter driving for me for a few days.

But I'm still interested to hear whether anyone thinks using washers is a bad idea. I'd like to at least keep using my wheel locks.

 

HI!... If the lugs you have on now are not in that good condition, take a ZIP blade on a disc grinder and shave off the ends so they become a open lug. Then just buy new lugs in the spring. It's not like the lugs are expensive. Or go to your local junk yard and pick up a set of regular F-150 open end lugs. Probably cost you like $10 or close to that.

 

Check your local tire/rim places.. I got a bunch of acorn style lug nuts from the place I had a flat fixed..
Does the regular rim need a lug nut with a built in washer like the stock lightning, or does it use tapered acorn style?

 

Gorilla makes the following:

Duplex acorn style 1.9" deep 7/8 hex: # 76108 (chrome cap style)

Acorn bulge "open" w/ 13/16 hex : #90008

Acorn bulge "open" w/ 3/4 hex : # 40008

These all have a 60 deg. tapered seat which , should be the proper lug for your steel wheel.....and are the proper mm and pitch...

goodluck,

Jon

 

Thanks for the replies guys. The steel wheels actually use the mag-style lugs with washers, like the stockers. They're not the acorn style.

I think I'm just going to buy some extra mag washers and put them between the wheel and the lugs. Since there's too much thread already, it shouldn't cause any safety issues. Then maybe this weekend I'll hit the junkyards for some open-ended lugs. Otherwise, all the shops I called this morning say they're special order.

 

You don't need to be driving your L in the snow anyway.....

 

i found some at pep boys

 

Just an update for the search database, I went to Pep Boys and they'd have to special order some 14mm open-ended mag style lugs. They did have extra mag washers (for Cragar rims), but they were selling for $4 for 4 washers, which didn't look all that special and were different sizes than the washers attached to the stock lugs.

So, I went to Home Depot and bought a box of 30 or so 3/8" Grade 5 washers for $3. I put one behind each lug and it works fine. Easy fix!


PS, snow tires ROCK!