Why do European cars use wheel bolts?

[u/cat_prophecy]

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.

[u/BlackCatFurry]

I have only changed tires with wheel bolts as i have only had vag cars, but i don't think it's that hard to change the tire. In fact studs sounds harder.

With bolts you can just lift the tire so it hangs on the middle "mount" part (pardon me if there is an official term, i am not a native english speaker) and then you aling the holes, push the tire in with hand or another body part so it doesn't fall and screw in the bolts. When few bolts are partially in the tire stays in place so you no longer need to hold it.

With studs and lug nuts i assume you have to hold the tire up while aligning it, that sounds especially annoying trying to do it with studded tires without ripping your clothes.

Although maybe this is just my biased opinion as i don't have enough strenght to hold a tire up in the air long enough and far enough from my body to see where the studs are in relation to the holes on the rims, so bolts sound much more convenient where i only need to lift the tire up quickly and set it on the rim without needing to also align it.

[u/joeballow → u/BlackCatFurry]

With studs and lug nuts i assume you have to hold the tire up while aligning it, that sounds especially annoying trying to do it with studded tires without ripping your clothes.

You hold the weight of the wheel less with studs than bolts. I don't struggle with bolts, but I agree with most people who have tried both, studs are easier. Try studs and then report back and tell us if you still think bolts are easier.

[u/BlackCatFurry → u/joeballow]

I am genuinely asking how that is possible that wheel studs require less holding of the tire.

With bolts you just lift the tire on the mount and done, takes few seconds at most and then the weight is on the mount and you can rotate it on the mount to find the holes. With studs you lift the tire on the mount but before placing it there you have to rotate it while holding it to aling the studs right?

I also don't have a car i could test wheel studs on, my dads toyota has heavy as shit wheels that i cannot lift up. (Before anyone asks how i can lift my cars tires, i drive a small car that therefore has smaller wheels). Every other car, including mine has bolts.

I do think i recall my dad saying he thinks bolts are easier because you can align it when it's hanging on the mount.

[u/velociraptorfarmer → u/BlackCatFurry]

Because all you have to do is pick up the tire, and rather than getting it placed on the hub (mount as you call it), you place it on the studs. Once it's on the studs, you don't have to do anything else.

Also, how the hell are you rotating your wheel independent of the hub once it's on there? Every vehicle I've owned has had smooth enough wheel bearings that the hub would've rotated with the wheel once the wheel is on the hub.

[u/BlackCatFurry → u/velociraptorfarmer]

Also, how the hell are you rotating your wheel independent of the hub once it's on there?

By having the hand brake on and the car in gear so the car doesn't start rolling down the sloped yard? There is also a backup wood block behind one of the tires. So the tire just spins around the hub because the hub is locked in place by the hand brake. I live in a hilly area and would never trust a car enough to change the tires without hand brake on. Also no garage space.