JPR AutoSports

I’ve been experimenting a bit with some different lug nuts for the race car as I wanted a nut that would be light, hold up well to quick changes and is finished nicely and consistently. I’m swapping wheels constantly at the track, multiple times in a day, and so expect to tear up aluminum nuts over time. I had tried some others and had problems with marring and finish inconsistency so they would sometimes get locked inside the socket. As importantly, I want them to be reasonably inexpensive so it didn’t hurt too much to replace them, if I needed to, during the season.

I found these from Yonaka in our size on their website, but they are available all over the internet:

These Yonaka nuts weigh nothing and, for my use, have held up easily as well as MUCH more expensive nuts. I was worried the metal might be softer or the fit wouldn’t be as consistent, given their lower price but I was wrong. They use a 19mm socket and the fit is tight and the manufacturing is very consistent from lug to lug. The shank is long and so these work great with normal or long track studs. (there are so many opportunities for inappropriate jokes in here I almost don’t know what to do with myself ).

I use both a torque wrench and then a drill to get them off and on fast which seems to be the right combination. You can’t/ shouldn’t use a impact drill with aluminum nuts, they can get torn up and stuck inside the socket – this will make you very sad when you are at the track (as me how I know). I did also buy, a while back, a thread chaser in M12 x 1.5, which I highly recommend as it’s a good tool to have if you ever cross a thread.

The Yonaka nuts are finished very well and, while they don’t come in yellow, red or blue, look pretty nice in Black and Silver (I think they have gold too). Ultimately, they fit the bill perfectly – they are light, finished well, hold up and are inexpensive. I can get part way through a season, mess a couple up and get a fresh set without mortgaging the house. I don’t see too many discussions on different lug nuts but if you are looking for a fresh set for the upcoming season, check these out. Let me know what you think.

I’m running them again this season (2011). Here’s a shot of a set on the car.