Wheels that fit

[LuckyLightning]

Hey all, I have a set of 32x11.5x15 Pro Comp Mud Terrain tires mounted on stock Wagoneer 15x7 rims with 6 on 5.5 bolt pattern (that's what I'm told anyway). I'm looking at putting these on a '95 Z-71 but I'm concerned about the lugnuts.

I placed these rims on my '63 Chevy to basically hold it up until I can get it rolling again (see pic below). I used the lugs that I had (off a set of mid-80's 4x4 'burb wheels) and they just seemed to go on funny, like it wasn't a solid flush fit. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, right?

So my question is, now that I can finally use them on a 4x4, what kind of lugnuts should I be using to hold these wheels on the Z-71? Should I use the lugs that are currently used on the Z-71's wheels or should I be looking for something else that fits flush on the Wagoneer wheels but has the same thread as what the Chevy needs? Dunno if that's even right, but you can see that I'm real rusty with wheels and lugs so any help would be much-o appreciated.

[LuckyLightning]

I could really use some advice here, I really don't know where else to go to look for the right answer.

I'm heading out this weekend to pick up these tires (my '63 is on the family farm an hour away) and hopefully put them on my Z-71, so I'd love to get some responses by then.

[vtblazer]

I'd say it's contingent on what the wheels need.

Later model chevy's are normal lug nuts for the most part.

Do the alloy's need a shanked lug nut?

[LuckyLightning]

Ah, well... see I don't even know what a "shanked" lug nut is. The best way to describe the fitting (from memory) is that where the lugs make contact with the wheel, there is a 45 degree angle, but on the wheel the contact area for the lug is flat. So it's not a flushed contact surface.

[LuckyLightning]

I found this post/tech tip from Bob. Seems he did the same thing I want to do. I sent him an email asking what lug nuts he used, but no response yet.

I wonder, does it really even matter what lugs I use? As long as they're on good and tight, do the lugs really need a lot of contact surface with the wheels?

[LuckyLightning]

Well, that sucks. My email to Bob got bounced back to me. I'm hoping someone around here can give me some good solid answers.

Many thanks in advance!

[badchev69]

I would buy the lugnuts to fit the wheel. If the wheel surface is flat as you say and the lugs you have are the acorn or 45 degree style you will end up screwing up the wheels severely in the long run. With that little of mounting area they will work themselves out. My suggestion is to take one of the lugs off the z-71 into an autoparts store and just tell them you need the same size and thread pitch only with a flat (jeep) style mounting surface. I worked in autozone for almost 2 years and im going there later. Ill look into it for you and try and hit you back late tonight. good luck!

[LuckyLightning]

Yeah, that's about what I've heard (offline) that I should do. I just don't remember exactly what angle the Wagoneer wheels were at, so I need to look at them this weekend before I run into the store.

Thanks a ton for your help!