Tires, Wheels, & Brakes Discussion about wheels, tires, and brakes for the new MINI.
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Wheels don't fit! Lugs too big. What next?

Old Dec 5, 2012 | 05:19 PM
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Wheels don't fit! Lugs too big. What next?

Hi guys, so I ended up picking up some aftermarket wheels for my new mini. Its a 2013 and had the standard 15s on it. So I went and bought some Speedy Race Mode wheels. Bolt Pattern is correct and I checked on a few sites for fitment. Well after buying the wheels and tires the lugs on my mini are too big. I'm guessing these wheels fit M12 lugs not M14. Stupid on my part for not checking before I had tires mounted. Im hoping someone has had this issue before and can chime in.

I know my options are:

a wheel adapter kit
M14 to M12 wheel stud kit
bore out the lug holes.

Which do you guys think will be the best and most cost effective way?

Thanks guys.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 05:24 PM
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Ive been reading for a few hours through old posts and I just want to clarify to prevent confusion, the hole around the lug bolt is fine to get the socket around. The issue is simply the M14 lug bolt wont go through the lug holes on the wheels.

Thanks for the help. Can't wait to get these wheels on
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 05:43 PM
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Way Motor Works sells an M14 to M12 wheel stud conversion kit just for this problem. Runs about $90 bucks. Type "lug bolts" in the search bar on the website.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 06:16 PM
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If you have a Cooper or Cooper S not the Countryman

Then-
http://www.waymotorworks.com/m14-to-...rsion-kit.html

Plus you need lug nuts to fit M12x1.5 thread.

As you mentioned it is the stock lug nut width which is too wide to fit the holes in the new wheel.

Another option is to find narrow width lug bolts that fit your new wheel and have M14x1.25 thread, you'll have to test fit them to be sure.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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I got a set of studs, nuts and lock for sale, pm if you want them
 
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Old Dec 5, 2012 | 07:37 PM
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Hi Ryan I have done the exact same thing, you can go to EZaccessory.com and order some Tuner lug bolts 14 x 1.25 they are about $43 plus shipping they are a narrow fit and have a special key / adapter to tighten them. Check them out they should solve your problem.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 04:12 AM
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Kenny,

not sure if the tuner bolts would work. They will still be M14 which leaves me the issues of them fitting through the lug hole in the wheel.

I believe my two options are the lug stud conversion kit or to have the holes drilled out.

Has anyone tried to drill out the lug holes with success?

I have received mixed reviews on the effectiveness of this method.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 04:33 AM
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I would leave the bolts and threads stock, drill the holes out. It can't be too much material that needs to be removed.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 04:46 AM
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yeah I was debating doing that. It would just seem difficult to get the holes exactly right. But I am not sure if that matters? I just bought "hub centering" rings so even if the holes are drilled slightly off, shouldnt it still sit on the hub in a perfect circle?

Thanks
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 11:03 AM
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Just to clarify


Your lug bolt (not nut) is too wide to fit through the holes in the aftermarket wheels?


This is a lug nut.

MINIs come stock with lug bolts not nuts.

The stud conversion kit is a stud only, then you need to buy nuts to fit them, these will replace the stock lug bolts.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 11:06 AM
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minihune, yes it is the lug bolt/stud that is too large. I am debating between picking up the stud kit or boring out the holes to make the stock lug bolts work
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 11:40 AM
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Buy a quality set of wheels and try again.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Dark
Buy a quality set of wheels and try again.
Are these not good wheels? I was trying to keep costs low but also don't want to be running junk.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Dark
Buy a quality set of wheels and try again.
Im sorry but there are many quality brand wheels out there that need this conversion kit to fit, the quality of a wheel has nothing to do with the size of the hole for the lug bolt
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by cesar418
Im sorry but there are many quality brand wheels out there that need this conversion kit to fit, the quality of a wheel has nothing to do with the size of the hole for the lug bolt
Are you implying that the set he had chosen is a 'quality' set?
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Dark
Are you implying that the set he had chosen is a 'quality' set?
There are certainly much worse wheels on the market. I would say a wheel with a lifetime structural guarantee isn't something I would call terrible. However that being said I do know little about the company and their reputation and if you can show me where they are not highly rated I would greatly appreciate it. I'd rather not fit my car with wheels that won't last.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:30 PM
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If you have access to a drill press just open up the holes in the wheels to at least 9/16. You may need to go to 37/64 or 19/32 if the drill walks any.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Redhatch
If you have access to a drill press just open up the holes in the wheels to at least 9/16. You may need to go to 37/64 or 19/32 if the drill walks any.
I was thinking the same thing. Not sure I want to go that high though. I will probably go to 5/8 which is 15.87mm. Leaves almost two mm of play.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Ryan89
There are certainly much worse wheels on the market. I would say a wheel with a lifetime structural guarantee isn't something I would call terrible. However that being said I do know little about the company and their reputation and if you can show me where they are not highly rated I would greatly appreciate it. I'd rather not fit my car with wheels that won't last.
My point was that I did not imply quality wheels fit the standard lugs, it was that there are better wheels out there (and they are likely to work with the 14mm lugs), to me that's a wiser decision over an adapter kit.

Regardless of the warranty offered with wheels there's no point running something cheap even if they're going to replace it for free all the time, I'd rather own a quality wheel that I don't have to worry about.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Ryan89
I was thinking the same thing. Not sure I want to go that high though. I will probably go to 5/8 which is 15.87mm. Leaves almost two mm of play.
If he did that then say goodbye to the warranty you were praising...
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Dark
My point was that I did not imply quality wheels fit the standard lugs, it was that there are better wheels out there (and they are likely to work with the 14mm lugs), to me that's a wiser decision over an adapter kit.

Regardless of the warranty offered with wheels there's no point running something cheap even if they're going to replace it for free all the time, I'd rather own a quality wheel that I don't have to worry about.

I agree completely. If I wasn't on a tight budget I definitely would have purchase a better wheel set brand new vs the used ones I have. One day!
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Dark
If he did that then say goodbye to the warranty you were praising...
I bought them used. No warranty for me Only spent $200 though.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Ryan89
I bought them used. No warranty for me Only spent $200 though.
Then drill out the lug holes. No point in changing your factory configuration for a cheap set of wheels.

Next time you want to upgrade something do it when you're financially capable of doing it properly.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 02:07 PM
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The drill sizes I listed are all smaller than 5/8.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2012 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Dark
My point was that I did not imply quality wheels fit the standard lugs, it was that there are better wheels out there (and they are likely to work with the 14mm lugs)
It still sounds like you are implying that most all quality wheels will fit 14mm lugs, which is misleading.

The size lug bolt a wheel fits has nothing to do with quality. Many many Rays and Work wheels only allow for 12mm lugs, and they are very high quality. Heck my current wheels (not the Rotiforms in my sig) can't use 14mm lugs, but they are very high quality wheels.

It actually has more to do with wether the wheel was made in Europe or Asia, because European car manufacturers are more likely to make cars with 14mm lugs and Asian manufacturers tend to use 12mm lugs.
 
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