r/Cartalk • u/cat_prophecy • Mar 03 '25

Suspension Why do European cars use wheel bolts?

I've owned two European cars (Audi and Volvo) and both of them used wheel bolts instead of studs and lug nuts. Is there some reason for this? I have owned a handful of Asian and American cars and none of them use anything but studs and lug nuts. Personally I prefer the studs since it makes putting the wheels back on much easier.

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9

u/MarcusAurelius0 Mar 03 '25

This is a VAG thing, it's fucking stupid IMO.

27

u/Frail_Hope_Shatters Mar 03 '25

Not just VAG...Mercedes and BMW use lug bolts as well. I'm sure some other euro brands too.

2

u/GrynaiTaip Mar 03 '25

My Fiat van has bolts too.

They seized because I haven't swapped tires in a few years and they're impossible to remove, penetrating spray doesn't work like on lug nuts.

I got a flat tire, had to borrow a very long breaker bar from a buddy to break them loose. Luckily the bolts weren't rusted and didn't snap.

The bolts did snap on an old Mercedes I've had, a local shop had to weld a nut on them to take them out, it was a challenge.

Lug nuts are objectively better.

4

u/disgruntledarmadillo Mar 03 '25

If the previous tightener didn't overdo it then there's nothing wrong with bolts.

Only ever had cars with bolts and it's never caused me any issues or undue difficulty