PerryRT

Ok, folks - was spending some time today looking around and just fiddling with my new-to-me 97 Civic LX. Sorry for the "newbie" questions here, but aftermarket rims aren't something I've dealt with before.

One of the things I found out today was that the spare tire isn't the original donut (and it was out of air, too, but that's another issue). Kinda makes sense as the tires and rims are aftermarket, too. I assume by the size (my "spare" is the stock size for the 97) that the guy just kept one of the original tires/wheels when he put the new set on and threw it in the back - so I have a full size spare, more or less.

Well.... here's the problem(s) with that.

1) All I have in the trunk is the original Honda-supplied lug wrench. No WAY does it fit those little tiny nuts on the aftermarket rims. Any suggestions for a good solid one (I don't think the 4-way down at the Tractor Supply is gonna work here)? Or should I just find a socket of the right size, a breaker bar and a cheater and stick them all in the trunk?

2) Say I blow a tire somewhere and need to put this "spare" (original tire) back on... Would I be able to put that tire on with these little nuts? Or should I plan on adding 4 nuts to the trunk I've not dealt with aftermarket rims before, guys - sorry for the newbie questions.too?

And that just now made me think of this....

(3) - Shoot! There's probably some sort of offset spacer going on here that I can't see, isn't there? Maybe these nuts aren't actually nuts - what if they're studs? If I were to need to change a tire on the side of the road, the spacer would presumably have to come off, right? And how does THAT work!? Some sort of countersunk screw? Or are the original lugnuts still back in there somewhere?

And finally, any idea why the guy who mounted these rims (that have 8 holes) used the four that DON'T have the "scallops" for clearance? Seems weird to me, but there has to have been a reason.

Again, though, my goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible. I actually like the look of the rims (even if I do take cr*p for being a 40-yo white guy with a tricked Honda at work), but I refuse to put myself in a situation where I'll get stuck in Hooterville with a flat because I didn't plan well enough.

I think I'm gonna have to take one off and look....but any suggestions beforehand would be appreciated.