For a variety of reasons, we're going to take the 17" Koenig Heliums off our 99 Civic EX, and go back to stock steelies.

A local tire place told my wife that if we used aftermarket wheels, we wouldn't be able to use the spare, as one uses acorn nuts, and one doesn't.

That's the info I have, related by my wife, who does NOT know about these things.

I could not imagine what the tire shop could possibly mean.

Any ideas?

I'm thinking we'll get a set of steelies & tires, a regular set of lug nuts (it's got tuner lugnuts right now) maybe a set of hubcaps, and we'll be good.

Am I deluded in thinking it will be that easy?

Many thanks,
Dave

 

The information the tire shop gave your wife is correct. Most aftermarket wheels require conical lug nuts, while the stock Honda wheels use a ball/acorn seat.

However, that won't be an issue if you will be using all factory Honda wheels. As you said, if you get pick up a set of standard Honda lug nuts, and you're using the stock steel wheels, you'll be fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkyDaver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For a variety of reasons, we're going to take the 17" Koenig Heliums off our 99 Civic EX, and go back to stock steelies.

A local tire place told my wife that if we used aftermarket wheels, we wouldn't be able to use the spare, as one uses acorn nuts, and one doesn't.

That's the info I have, related by my wife, who does NOT know about these things.

I could not imagine what the tire shop could possibly mean.

Any ideas?

I'm thinking we'll get a set of steelies & tires, a regular set of lug nuts (it's got tuner lugnuts right now) maybe a set of hubcaps, and we'll be good.

Am I deluded in thinking it will be that easy?

Many thanks,
Dave</TD></TR></TABLE>


you can still use the spare, and if the lugs are an issue than keep 4 stock lugs in a ziplock baggie with your spare. . and your not deluded for thinkin that, but why take the wheels off and lose that extra bit of control that they add to the car. that i feel doesnt make sense. .

 

I may not have been clear. We no longer have the Honda steel wheels, and will be getting new steel wheels. Aftermarket steel wheels are significantly cheaper, and that was what we're thinking of doing.

Since we've had the Heliums on for 5 years or so, I don't have a set of Honda wheel nuts to look at, and I surely don't remember any difference. Could you describe what the 'acorn/ball' seat is like compared to a conical?

I'm liking the idea of getting a set of Honda wheel nuts and keeping them with the spare (thanks BLUIZE256)

As I'm understanding it, the tuner nuts would not have seated well, anyway (but we've never had to put on the spare for real)

 

As I said in the original "for a variety of reasons"

One of which is that the Heliums have taken some rim damage over the years. If I were keeping the car for myself, I'd replace the wheels with new alloys, but that's not happening.

 

yeah, i myself use the ziplock bag trick. .

i dont get what you mean by acorn/ball?