Lightweight racing lug nuts are tailored to speed. They are
made for a specific purpose, and they fulfill that purpose well. It’s popular
to use racing parts as much as is legally possible in regular vehicles, but
lightweight racing lug nuts are best used for the purpose their name suggests.
They don’t give many advantages, but they can help racers shave a bit off their
vehicle’s total weight, and that’s important when you’re aiming for a win. That
weight can make all the difference between coming in first place or second place. Still, lightweight racing lug nuts have their
own set of pros and cons, and it's best to be informed before you invest in new
hardware.
Pros of Lightweight Racing Lug Nuts
Lightweight racing lug nuts can cut precious pounds off of a
race car, or any car looking to maximize its potential for speed. Although they
sometimes require a little extra torque to fit down, most drivers have few
issues getting the lighter weight lug nuts to go where they should. Although
the idea of a lightweight lug nut may sound like an opportunity for cracks,
breaks, and loose wheels, the truth is very different. Most lightweight racing lug
nuts are made of aluminum. The materials used come from many of the same
programs that produce the gear used in aircrafts. Just because they are light
doesn’t mean they aren’t tough. The key advantage is definitely speed, but these
lug nuts don’t lack for strength.
Cons of Lightweight Racing Lug Nuts
Unfortunately, lightweight lug nuts aren’t built to fit
every vehicle. As mentioned above, they can be made to fit most racing cars.
Still, that fit isn’t perfect. They may come loose, especially under rapid
speeds. If you use lightweight lug nuts in a race car, you need to check them
often to make sure they haven’t come loose. It’s a good idea to routinely
tighten them, just in case they’ve become loose just enough to jeopardize your
wheel’s stability. Just because they aren’t clearly loose and jiggling around
doesn’t mean they couldn’t use a little tightening up.
Are They Right for You?
This ultimately comes down to how light you need your car to
be. The best fitting lug nuts may not be lightweight, but they won’t require
the same amount of adjustments lightweight options will. On the other hand, a
little less weight could help you pull ahead of the competition. The purpose of
your vehicle will ultimately determine whether or not lightweight lug nuts will
do what you need.
Thanks to their shortcomings, it’s a good idea to test out
lightweight racing lug nuts before you hit the track for a race. Check to see
exactly how much weight they cut off, and compare that to how much trouble it
is to tighten them up all the time. They offer a great benefit, but it comes at a price. If you don’t pay attention to the cons we discussed, you could end up
losing more than a race.