Tesla lugnuts

capt601 · Dec 6, 2014

For the second time I have had the tesla lugnuts lose there shape and cannot get a socket to fit on them or the socket just spins around the lugnut
The first time last year tesla was rotating our tires and had to replace every single lugnut. Yesterday I had 2 tires replaced from the usual inside wear, and today went to check them and cannot get the socket on half of them to check the torque. Went to the tire shop and they agreed. They said for me to get some from tesla and they will reimburse me, but also mentioned the tesla lugnuts ahve a soft sleeve over them that is easily damaged and warped from applying the 129 ftlbs of torque.

Has anyone had this same thing happen? Have you found any that work and match the wheels ( silver turbine)? Or is the tire shop maybe using more than 129 ftlbs of torque? I have used them many times and didn't have this problem before.

captain_zap · Dec 6, 2014

Are you using a 19 mm socket? I think they are metric. I haven't had any issues.

capt601 · Dec 6, 2014

captain_zap said:
Are you using a 19 mm socket? I think they are metric. I haven't had any issues.

The only one that fit was a 22mm socket. And those we're the lugnuts tesla installed last year.

gaswalla · Dec 6, 2014

This happened to me at discount tires in San Diego.. Service center advised only to hand torque the lugs... Service center gave new set of lug nuts .

JPP · Dec 6, 2014

Think I found replacement lug nuts for the 21 wheels

siai47 · Dec 6, 2014

At least on my car with 19's, it takes a 21 mm socket. A six point impact socket fits fine in the recess in the wheel. Make sure you use a six point and not a 12 point socket. It's not English as a 13/16" socket is the closest fit but is too tight to get all the way on the nut.

omarsultan · Dec 6, 2014

Look for a thread by artsci on replacement lug nuts....

scaesare · Dec 6, 2014

Yes on deforming the lug nuts.

Yes on the 19" wheels needing a 21mm socket.

Yes on the recommendation of a 6-pt socket rather than a 12-pt.

Replacements from the Service Center are $3.50 ea.

Doug_G · Dec 6, 2014

Do NOT let anyone use an impact wrench on the Tesla lug nuts. It will distort the nuts and ruin them.

I recently helped a friend swap his winters on, and the idiot at (insert well-known tire chain here) who put his summers on had hammered them on so hard with an impact wrench that they had distorted. I had to use a 22 mm socket to get them off because the 21 mm would no longer fit. Judging by the force required to break them loose I'm pretty sure they were at 200 ft-lbs. The nuts are destroyed and he's going to have to get them replaced.

Here's the recommended procedure: break the nuts lose with a breaker bar. Then you can use an impact gun to spin them off. Once the wheels are swapped you can use the impact gun to spin the nuts on again, but do not let the gun hammer them on. Use a proper torque wrench set to 129 ft-lbs to finish the job, and be sure to use a "star pattern" to tighten them.

linkster · Dec 6, 2014

Doug_G said:
Do NOT let anyone use an impact wrench on the Tesla lug nuts. It will distort the nuts and ruin them.

I recently helped a friend swap his winters on, and the idiot at (insert well-known tire chain here) who put his summers on had hammered them on so hard with an impact wrench that they had distorted. I had to use a 22 mm socket to get them off because the 21 mm would no longer fit. Judging by the force required to break them loose I'm pretty sure they were at 200 ft-lbs. The nuts are destroyed and he's going to have to get them replaced.

Here's the recommended procedure: break the nuts lose with a breaker bar. Then you can use an impact gun to spin them off. Once the wheels are swapped you can use the impact gun to spin the nuts on again, but do not let the gun hammer them on. Use a proper torque wrench set to 129 ft-lbs to finish the job, and be sure to use a "star pattern" to tighten them.

+1

E X A C T L Y, and *ONLY* use a 21mm 6-pt

jerry33 · Dec 7, 2014

linkster said:
+1

E X A C T L Y, and *ONLY* use a 21mm 6-pt

No kidding. Mine are all screwed now too after the last tire change.

artsci · Dec 7, 2014

omarsultan said:
Look for a thread by artsci on replacement lug nuts....

I would recommend replacing the stock Tesla lug nuts. Frankly, they're junk. See this thread.

Cottonwood · Dec 7, 2014

Doug_G said:
Here's the recommended procedure: break the nuts lose with a breaker bar. Then you can use an impact gun to spin them off. Once the wheels are swapped you can use the impact gun to spin the nuts on again, but do not let the gun hammer them on. Use a proper torque wrench set to 129 ft-lbs to finish the job, and be sure to use a "star pattern" to tighten them.

To be extra careful (probably more care than needed), I torque the lug nuts to 100 ft-lb all around, then to a final tightening to 129 ft-lb in the classic star sequence.

And of course, I only use a 6-point, 21mm socket with hand breaker bar and torque wrench.

kevincwelch · Dec 7, 2014

I had one deformed by an impact wrench. I had to remove it manually with a 22 mm socket. My fault. To loosen, I do it now with a 4-way wrench and then use the impact wrench for rapid removal. Hand tighten with the 4-way then finally with the torque wrench.

Little scuffs don't bother me since I use the OEM caps to match the darker color of my wheels.

21 mm OEM.
19 mm Rial Lugano nuts.

capt601 · Dec 7, 2014

artsci said:
I would recommend replacing the stock Tesla lug nuts. Frankly, they're junk. See this thread.

Thanks Artsci. Did you end up getting the gorilla lugnuts others mentioned in the thread or another brand?

artsci · Dec 8, 2014

capt601 said:
Thanks Artsci. Did you end up getting the gorilla lugnuts others mentioned in the thread or another brand?

I got the Gorillas. They've been on and off at least 3 times with no problems. They're very high quality.

capt601 · Dec 8, 2014

Perfect. Thanks Artsci!

omarsultan · Dec 8, 2014

+1 on the Gorillas - a definite improvement over the stock lug nuts

HankLloydRight · Mar 27, 2015

Do the plastic lug nut caps fit well on the Gorilla nuts?

MajesticSound · Apr 6, 2015

Just got this socket from Summit Racing, has a nice protective outer covering on it to protect the wheels.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SXT-284321

Tesla lugnuts

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