Wheel bolts: conical, ball seat & torque

Seat type: cone, ball or flat

• 60° conical seat – standard on most aftermarket wheels.
• Ball / radius seat – common on OEM wheels, e.g. of many German brands.
• Flat seat – with a washer, e.g. on some OEM wheels of Japanese brands.

Thread and length

The thread (e.g. M14×1.5) depends on the vehicle and is listed in the wheel certificate. Length is measured below the head (shank length). It must reach the required engagement without bottoming out in the hub.

Thread engagement ≥ 1 × thread diameter (guideline)
M12 → ≥ 12 mm · M14 → ≥ 14 mm

Tightening correctly

1. Hang the wheel on a guide pin, thread the bolts in by hand.
2. Snug them in a star pattern, lower the car.
3. Torque in a star pattern to the manufacturer value – typically 110–140 Nm for cars.
4. Re-torque after 50–100 km.