I just picket up a set of red aluminum lug nuts and Im trying to find a special lug nut socket thats meant for them so I dont scratch them up, but all I can find are the style that have plastic on the od of the socket to protect the rim, what is everyone using?

 

Not the answer that you want to hear, but most of us use lug nuts that don't take damage just from being used as they were intended.

I had AL nuts for 6 months. Only ever used a torque wrench, never an impact, and they still started showing scratches and signs of external wear in 2 months. After 6 months, the threads started removing themselves from the nuts. I do 2 wheel changes a month, when I autocross (before and after the event). At that point, I decided that "racing lug nuts" aren't exactly what they claim to be, and bought a nice set of McGards. 2 years later, they look as new as the day I bought them.

I looked and looked, but never found a lug nut socket that was fully plastic on the inside. I do have a set with plastic inserts, but they just keep the very end of the nut from hitting the base of the socket, the engagement of the hex sides is still metal on metal.

 

Thats kinda what I figured, thanks

 

use some plastic wrap on the outside of the lugnuts that helps keep the socket/key from scratching them up.

 

Wow. That's brilliant. Saran wrap FTW! (Assuming it actually fits between the nut and socket.)

 

Nice, i was thinkin masking tape, but thats a much better idea