Using Prado Alloy Wheel Nuts for a Steel Wheel

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

We have a 2015 Prado 150 with 17” alloys and a camper trailer with 16” steel wheels. Both have a spare, but I am looking at using the spare from one on the other in case I get 2 flats.

Both have the same stud patterns (6 x 139.7), and I have tried a 16” wheel from the camper trailer on the Prado and one of the 17” Prado alloys on the camper trailer. Both fit without rubbing on guards or brake calipers etc (but I haven’t bothering about checking offsets etc). The tyres have almost the same diameter (to within 5 mm).

The Prado has nuts for alloy wheels and the camper has tapered nuts for steel wheels. They have different stud thread patterns so I know the nuts aren’t inter-changeable - camper has ˝” UNF threads, Prado has 12mm x 1.5 threads. I looked into replacing the studs on the CT, but that will cost $100 per side – and as I say this is a backup in case of 2 flats.

I am thinking of just being able to put the CT spare on the Prado, as I think 2 flats on the Prado is the most likely scenario as it has twice as many wheels on the ground, wheels are all driven, it hits obstacles first and the front wheels sidewalls may be more exposed when turning etc.

So the question – I noticed the Prado wheel studs have a taper on the end. Does anyone know if this taper would be suitable for a steel rim (in an emergency)?

[Guest Close Guest]

Yes, the alloy wheel nuts will fit on a steel rim. Just check that the nut doesn't bottom out on the stud before engaging the rim properly.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

That's my pic!

Alko will sell the M12 studs for $1 each if you change them yourself.

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

if the prado wheels fit the camper
change the wheels on the camper to the alloys and buy the 1/2" mag nuts to fit
then the nuts stay with either vehicle and the wheels are interchangeable

(that's what i wanted to do with both my camper trailer & the new van ( but the off set stuffed me up !!)

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

That's my pic!

Alko will sell the M12 studs for $1 each if you change them yourself.

Yeah I didn't take a pic of the Prado nuts when I had them off and figured a pic would help explain what I was on about, so googled it an saw yours so pinched it!!

I rang Martin's Trailer Parts and they told me you can't just swap the studs (different knurl that locks into the drum). They can make up drums with M12 studs, for around $100 each. I may try Alko though - thanks for the tip.

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

if the prado wheels fit the camper
change the wheels on the camper to the alloys and buy the 1/2" mag nuts to fit
then the nuts stay with either vehicle and the wheels are interchangeable

(that's what i wanted to do with both my camper trailer & the new van ( but the off set stuffed me up !!)

As per my post above that will require $100 per side to get the CT studs changed, then I need alloy wheel studs etc - so I have decided I am happy just working out how to get the CT steel wheels on the Prado in an emergency.

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

leave the studs as 1/2" you can buy mag nuts that fit the studs & fit in the wheels (super cheap normally have them for like $20 a set of 6

just means you need to find a set of wheels

just saying

check the taper in your steel wheels and see if your prado nuts sit in there
( i just brought 4 x new 16" steel rims and the taper is very small so you have to be precise when doing up the nuts !!
i and going to adjust my taper as soon as i can get the tool from a mate

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Yeah I didn't take a pic of the Prado nuts when I had them off and figured a pick would help explain what I was on about, so googled it an saw yours so pinched it!!

I rang Martin's Trailer Parts and they told me you can't just swap the studs (different knurl that locks into the drum). They can make up drums with M12 studs, for around $100 each. I may try Alko though - thanks for the tip.

I did my off road trailer and they are the same, length varies though depending on the thickness of the hub. I have the same wheel size and offset on the camper and the trailer and the Prado. All with M12 studs and Toyota nuts. My local BJT gave me two dozen wheel nuts they had in their cache of wheelnuts.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Both have the same stud patterns (6 x 139.7), and I have tried a 16” wheel from the camper trailer on the Prado and one of the 17” Prado alloys on the camper trailer. Both fit without rubbing on guards or brake calipers etc (but I haven’t bothering about checking offsets etc). The tyres have almost the same diameter (to within 5 mm).

Did you try the Camper rims on the front wheels or the rear of the Prado? I'm led to believe you can't fit 16" on the front but can on the rear. Its not really an issue I suppose, because you could always swap the 17" rears to the front and put the 16's on the back.

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

Did you try the Camper rims on the front wheels or the rear of the Prado? I'm led to believe you can't fit 16" on the front but can on the rear. Its not really an issue I suppose, because you could always swap the 17" rears to the front and put the 16's on the back.

No I didn't - I have read elsewhere 16" won't fit on the front, and if you look the front brake calipers are much larger and don't have much clearance to the 17" alloys, so I'm pretty sure they won't fit.

So as you say the plan is if I get 2 flats on the front, spare goes on one side, one of the Prado back wheels goes on the other and the CT spare goes on the back.

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

leave the studs as 1/2" you can buy mag nuts that fit the studs & fit in the wheels (super cheap normally have them for like $20 a set of 6

just means you need to find a set of wheels

just saying

check the taper in your steel wheels and see if your prado nuts sit in there
( i just brought 4 x new 16" steel rims and the taper is very small so you have to be precise when doing up the nuts !!
i and going to adjust my taper as soon as i can get the tool from a mate

Thanks Razorback, for some reason I had got it into my head that I could not get 1/2 inch mag nuts to suit the Prado wheels!! That is the obvious easy fix - spare set of 1/2" mag nuts, then the Prado wheels can go on the CT if need to.

And from the other posts it looks like the taper on the Prado nuts should be ok for the steels on the Prado (I'll take a nut off both and do a side by side to check the taper) - otherwise I might just buy a set of 12mm nuts for the steel rims. Sorted!

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

leave the studs as 1/2" you can buy mag nuts that fit the studs & fit in the wheels (super cheap normally have them for like $20 a set of 6

Went to super cheap on the weekend and also checked their website and they don't carry nuts that suit. Also tried Auto One as they were next door but no luck.

Any other suggested places to try?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Ford alloys that use flange nuts are 1/2". Not sure if the shaft diameter is small enough to fit in the Prado alloys.

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

Seems the Mag nuts are pretty rim specific - yes the 1/2" thread is the same as Ford (I guess Ford set the standard), but the "flat" needs to be 12mm long and you need the washer to apply the axial force to hold the rim on. A lot of the mags have different dimensions. Unfortunately SuperCheap didn't have the right sort.

Since posting "where else has them?" I sent out some inquiries - looks like you can get them from "Nice Products" https://niceproducts.com.au/product/nn262c-wheel-nut/ Unfortinately at $7.10 each they aren't cheap.

Attached is the dimension drawing from their web site, and the dimensions look about right compared to mine

[LeadWings Member Find all posts View Profile Close LeadWings]

Wound up getting 12 off e-bay from "Lug Nut King" for $69 delivered.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TOYOTA-MI...4AAMXQydtTMk2J