Colored lug nuts

[Protomeister]

Ok, so interesting experience so far. I ordered the black lug nuts through Panda and it's the McGard set, with a wheel lock (bonus, I've used them before and liked them).

First, the lug nuts absolutely scratch up from the first installation. That was disappointing, but understandable.

Second, though - the lug nuts I was sent leave quite the gap in the hole for the lug bolt. Enough that it's concerned me and I'm returning the lug nuts. And beyond my non-expert safety concerns, I also was going for the blacked-out look, so it didn't make sense to then leave a plain steel/metal looking ring around each lug nut. Bleh.

I contacted McGard and they gave me a different set of part numbers for the Ranger. And those would also be too narrow.

Note in the pics that the OEM lug nuts have a large flange & cone vs. the much smaller footprint of the McGard lug nuts....

Not sure what I'm going to do now - for the short while I had the black lug nuts on, I thought it looked great and could imagine how awesome it'd be if it complete covered the original lug nuts' spot.

Thoughts?

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[VAMike]

I'd say good call on not keeping that

 

[Hack_Actual]

Appears McGard is definitely wrong.

 

[Stevie Gee]

I’m just going to put a small circle of black tape on mine..easily replaceable, and same effect.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I’m just going to put a small circle of black tape on mine..easily replaceable, and same effect.

Hi,

Area is the square of the radius, so a small reduction in radius is a large reduction in footprint. I would avoid any lug nuts that do this. black tape can't help here, but may bandaid appearance.

Hope these reduced footprint lug nuts work for you

Best,
Phil Schilke,
Ranger Vehicle Engineer
Ford Motor Company Retired

 

[VAMike]

My concern is that looking at the scuffed area on the original lugs, there's a huge reduction in the area of the mating surface. Were the originals chosen at random, or do the wheels actually need the mounting force distributed over that much area? (That is, will the wheels be prone to cracking at the holes or some such if the force is concentrated?)

 

[THLONE]

Hi,

Area is the square of the radius, so a small reduction in radius is a large reduction in footprint. I would avoid any lug nuts that do this. black tape can't help here, but may bandaid appearance.

Hope these reduced footprint lug nuts work for you

Best,
Phil Schilke,
Ranger Vehicle Engineer
Ford Motor Company Retired

It is nice to read your experienced scientific responses, but as you know some people would rather have their lug nuts look good rather than safely hold their wheels on. Reference a story on the news about wheels coming off on CA freeways. One man was actually chasing down a wheel in the middle of traffic. Wheels were rolling down the freeway and nobody knew where they came from.
PS maybe a stronger tape would help.

 

[Ranger #6]

...It is a more complex joint than you would imagine.

Bolt preload and mystery are synonymous.
(bastard-ization of a Bill Boeing quote related to propellers)

 

[Protomeister]

ok, now I have a favor - does anyone have an extra OEM lugnut laying around? It probably doesn't make sense to break up a set, but thought I'd ask.

For the life of me, can't figure out why I'm short one lug nut. Maybe I didn't tighten that one all the way when I put them back on. Maybe I never put it back (I kept one off to take photos).

Thought I'd ask before having to order a whole set (I'm assuming) from Ford.

 

[Johnpenn]

Ok, so interesting experience so far. I ordered the black lug nuts through Panda and it's the McGard set, with a wheel lock (bonus, I've used them before and liked them).

First, the lug nuts absolutely scratch up from the first installation. That was disappointing, but understandable.

Second, though - the lug nuts I was sent leave quite the gap in the hole for the lug bolt. Enough that it's concerned me and I'm returning the lug nuts. And beyond my non-expert safety concerns, I also was going for the blacked-out look, so it didn't make sense to then leave a plain steel/metal looking ring around each lug nut. Bleh.

I contacted McGard and they gave me a different set of part numbers for the Ranger. And those would also be too narrow.

Note in the pics that the OEM lug nuts have a large flange & cone vs. the much smaller footprint of the McGard lug nuts....

Not sure what I'm going to do now - for the short while I had the black lug nuts on, I thought it looked great and could imagine how awesome it'd be if it complete covered the original lug nuts' spot.

Thoughts?

Since they're going to scratch anyway, just paint an OEM set. That would be much safer. Did you read P. A. Schilke's post in this thread?

 

[Protomeister]

Since they're going to scratch anyway, just paint an OEM set. That would be much safer. Did you read P. A. Schilke's post in this thread?

Interesting - I would hope someone had a stronger coating then what I could achieve with just painting.

Yep, did see his post. I have no intention of using lug nuts not properly designed/fitted for these wheels. I'm not willing to take the risk (real or perceived) of using a lug nut that doesn't fully seat in the same manner as the OEM ones.

 

[Protomeister]

Update- my local Ford dealer had a replacement lug nut for $7.40.

Ford Part Number ACPZ-1012-H

They do not have any black ones.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

Due to all the issues and good advice I'm just gonna hold off on the black lug nuts until the correct fitment is developed! As much as I think it would look good I prefer NOT to see a wheel pass me by on the highway..

 

[CaptainAmericaRob]

Why would you want blue nuts? LOL A man was driving near a fence around a mentally challenged facility when his wheel came loose. He stopped and discovered that he had lost all lug nuts from one wheel. As he lamented his plight a man on the other side of the fence come over and asked the driver what happened. After telling the patient on the inside of the Mental Facility that he had lost all the lug nuts on one wheel the patient said why dont you take one nut from the other wheels and use the three nuts to put on the loose wheel till you get to a repair facility. The driver said wow that is a good idea, why are you in that facility. The patient said I may be insane but I am not stupid.

lol... i just like the blue / great contrast. I've got nothing but compliments on them.but yes.. blue nuts...never a good thing lol

 

[Gus Villalpando]

thanks! I was looking for some black lug nuts for my 2019 Ranger, and with anti theft key, perfect!

However, the discount code is not working. New code?

Edit: sorry, typo. code worked just fine.

whats the discount code, I want some too

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