Steel vs Alloy Wheel Nuts Dilemma

[andyelbac]

I fitted a steel spare to the motorhome a few weeks ago and of course immediately started to worry about whether I could use the wheel nuts from the allloy as a temporary replacement. The advice I received was mixed enough to cause me to play safe and so I ordered a set of nuts for the steel spare from my local Fiat Professional centre. Hmmm, they both look pretty much the same to me: The white one is the steel wheel nut. According to Fiat the part no. for the steel is 1351203080. The part no. for wheel nuts to suit the alloys are 1363349080. So in theory, two different parts. What do we think?

 

[treblid]

More info here. Check your wheel bolt diameter.

M16 bolts: https://coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/cat...el-bolts-m16x1-5-06-on-1351203080/category/2/

M14 bolts: https://coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/cat...y-wheel-bolts-15-06-on-1363349080/category/2/

If you look at the appropriate links in my previous post on your previous thread, both of the OE part numbers above are listed. But one is 14mm and the other 16mm! Not sure where the error is but I would expect them to be equivalent.

 

[poppycamper]

Looking at photo on phone app.. so photo not very clear....
However to me it looks like the unthreaded part on one bolt is slightly longer than the other..
As chamfer sections seems to seem to aline at top would that not mean the chamfered section angles on each bolt is very very slightly differant?

 

[Dazzola]

Alloys are thicker than steel, hence the thread being shorter.

 

[gus-lopez]

thread length on both appears to be 23mm with diameter the same & angle of the chamfer also as shown on pic of them side by side.

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[poppycamper]

Alloys are thicker than steel, hence the thread being shorter.

Not the length of the thread that concerns me.... its the angle of the taper..

 

[treblid]

Alloys are thicker than steel, hence the thread being shorter.

The bolts for steel and alloy wheels are the same length. As confirmed, for example, by Coastal Motorhomes. Check the links above.

 

[royandsharont]

Surely? If Fiat fit as standard alloy wheels to their PVC’s with a steel spare, like they have done on mine, then if it needed separate wheel nuts to use the spare they would have been in the kit? The kit included a plate to attach the alloy wheel under the chassis when used so they must have given that some thought.

 

[Fdhadi]

I purchased a steel wheel from “The Wheel Shop” and asked the question.


On Tue, 11 Jan at 8:54 AM
From:
Tel: 0787
Reg No. : FY16
Message Body:
SKU: WSN-F019-5X118-71-X

I have ordered the above Steel wheel to use as a spare on my Motorhome. I have Fiat Light 118 Alloy Wheels fitted as standard.

Will the Alloy Wheel Nuts be ok to use on this Steel Spare Wheel when needed please?


Hi, as long the alloys wheels are factory fitted then they use the same bolts.

Regards Customer Service Team

 

[andyelbac]

If you look at the appropriate links in my previous post on your previous thread, both of the OE part numbers above are listed. But one is 14mm and the other 16mm! Not sure where the error is but I would expect them to be equivalent.

Thanks, your info. lost in the excitement!

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[scotjimland]

I replaced four alloy wheels with steel rims on my Ducato , and used the same bolts.. tyre fitted checked when fitting that they were correct.

 

[andyelbac]

So, that's cleared that up then!! Lots of interesting information from third parties posted but nothing from Fiat themselves. Con job from Fiat to make more money (seems unlikely to me)? or a giant organisation that that has had a few internal comms mixups and ended up giving the same part two different part numbers?, or very subtle differences between the two nuts which Fiat thought significant enough to differentiate by part number? But if the latter is true then the comment from Royandsharont raises a valid point. Either way, £56 lighter and one or six (depending on your view) spare wheel nuts (only sold in packs of 2) later, I'm still none the wiser.

 

[scotjimland]

So, that's cleared that up then!! Lots of interesting information from third parties posted but nothing from Fiat themselves. Con job from Fiat to make more money (seems unlikely to me)? or a giant organisation that that has had a few internal comms mixups and ended up giving the same part two different part numbers?, or very subtle differences between the two nuts which Fiat thought significant enough to differentiate by part number? But if the latter is true then the comment from Royandsharont raises a valid point. Either way, £56 lighter and one or six (depending on your view) spare wheel nuts (only sold in packs of 2) later, I'm still none the wiser.

I believe the alloy wheel bolts are 2mm longer .. the tyre fitter who changed mine said that the extra 2mm wasn't an issue when fitting the steel rims

 

[GMLS]

I purchased a steel wheel from “The Wheel Shop” and asked the question.


On Tue, 11 Jan at 8:54 AM
From:
Tel: 0787
Reg No. : FY16
Message Body:
SKU: WSN-F019-5X118-71-X

I have ordered the above Steel wheel to use as a spare on my Motorhome. I have Fiat Light 118 Alloy Wheels fitted as standard.

Will the Alloy Wheel Nuts be ok to use on this Steel Spare Wheel when needed please?


Hi, as long the alloys wheels are factory fitted then they use the same bolts.

Regards Customer Service Team

I had the same response from Halmerend who sell a lot of spare wheels and tyres on ebay

 

[beesa650]

I fitted a steel spare to the motorhome a few weeks ago and of course immediately started to worry about whether I could use the wheel nuts from the allloy as a temporary replacement. The advice I received was mixed enough to cause me to play safe and so I ordered a set of nuts for the steel spare from my local Fiat Professional centre. Hmmm, they both look pretty much the same to me: The white one is the steel wheel nut. According to Fiat the part no. for the steel is 1351203080. The part no. for wheel nuts to suit the alloys are 1363349080. So in theory, two different parts. What do we think?View attachment 867225View attachment 867226View attachment 867214

Leaving aside all the dimensional discussion there is the age old concern regarding dissimilar metal corrosion which was of immense importance during my RAF career. Steel and alloy don’t mix especially when you include road salt and water into the equation. Just saying!

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[Bigboy]

I have alloy wheels and in my kit for the spare wheel, which is steel, I have a set of extra studs. I haven't checked specifically, but I seem to recall reading somewhere not to mix the studs.

 

[Lenny HB]

On Fiat wheels the chamfer is the same angle for alloy & steel wheels, as others have said the bolts for alloys are 2mm longer.
I know some people have found when using the bolts for alloys with steel wheels on the rear they have had problems with them fouling so best to play safe.

 

[treblid]

I have alloy wheels and in my kit for the spare wheel, which is steel, I have a set of extra studs. I haven't checked specifically, but I seem to recall reading somewhere not to mix the studs.

The studs in the spare wheel changing kit will probably be only 3 and have plastic collars. These are for attaching the alloy you remove to the spare wheel carrier.

 

[Trackman]

I have alloy wheels and in my kit for the spare wheel, which is steel, I have a set of extra studs. I haven't checked specifically, but I seem to recall reading somewhere not to mix the studs.

Not relevant to Fiat perhaps, but my VW T6.1 came with a set of extra studs with the jack, steel spare wheel etc. I understood these to be for use with the spare wheel

 

[The Artilleryman]

Just being pedantic, but those are bolts.

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[andyelbac]

Just being pedantic, but those are bolts.

Strange, I know the difference between nuts and bolts and for the life of me don't know why I referred to them as nuts. For some reason the old Two Ronnie's sketch 'Four Candles ' comes to mind!