Lug & Bolt Breakdown
There are many different styles of lugs such as closed, open, or spiked as well as different lug fitments like conical, flat, or ball seat lugs. When purchased through our store, our experts have picked out the correct lugs for your vehicle and wheels. Test fitting the lugs is still recommended to ensure proper fitment as some vehicles may have multiple fitment options. If you purchased the lugs on your own, it is important to select the correct seat for your wheel as using incorrect lugs can cause damage to the wheel itself, vibrations & shaking while driving, or even cracking on the wheel that can compromise the structural integrity.
- Threading: Test fit each lug by hand to make sure the threading of the lug lines up with your studs.
- Seat: The base of the lug will either be conical (tapered), ball (radius), or flat. The bolt hole on your wheel will be either angled, rounded, or flat and requires the proper lug seat to be cradled securely into the bolt hole.
- Locking Lugs: Certain lug kits include a locking lug pack with installation key. These locking lugs act as a security measure to deter anyone interested in stealing your wheels. Be sure to hold on to this key so you can remove the locking lug to rotate or remove the wheels. We recommend keeping it separate from your vehicle as an added security measure.
- Note: Open-ended lug nuts are very common and provided when the center cap covers the center hub of the wheel to ensure proper clearance of the cap. For this reason, you may see open-ended lug nuts included with your order rather than the standard close-ended lugs.
Wheel Cleaning & Maintenance
You might think cleaning your wheels is only necessary when you're about to show off your ride, but it also helps your wheel finish last longer while maintaining that like-new, pristine condition. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent corrosive finish issues like pitting on chrome wheels. Issues such as pitting typically begin due to salt buildup sitting on the wheel from either salted roads in the winter or salt water if you are near the ocean.
Note: Be sure to only use mild soap or cleaners made specifically for your type of wheel finish. Wheel finishes may be permanently damaged by caustic soap used at some commercial car washes. Any intensely abrasive cleaning, such as steel wool or harsh chemicals, may also cause damage or void the finish warranty depending on the manufacturer.
**NEVER CLEAN WHEELS WHEN THEY ARE HOT!**
- Grab 2 buckets filled with water and your wheel cleaning solution. One bucket will be the Clean Bucket and one will be the Dirty Bucket. You will also need 2 microfiber wash mitts or cleaning cloths.
- Spray your wheels down with water to get rid of bigger pieces of mud and grime.
- Grab your first bucket. This will be your Dirty Bucket. Use a microfiber mitt to gently apply soapy water into every crevice of the wheel. Some people like to use a higher concentration of soap in this bucket. Do not scrub the wheels in this step as you are only trying to get soap in all the small crevices of the wheel. Scrubbing this early in the process may result in scratches on the wheel if you catch any debris under your wash mitt.
- Spray all the soapy water off and any grime that was dislodged by the first pass.
- Next, grab your second bucket and fresh microfiber mitt. This is the Clean Bucket. We recommend the two bucket method to avoid scrubbing debris into the wheel itself and scratching the finish. Now, you will be able to scrub more thoroughly because the majority of filth has been washed from your wheel.
- Spray off all soapy water again and dry the wheel off using a microfiber towel. We recommend using microfiber mitts and towels because they are gentle on the wheel while also being highly absorbent. If you already have a protective layer applied, like ceramic coating, you can use compressed air or a power dryer to dry the wheels.
- Finally, you can apply any shine or protective layer to the dry wheel. We recommend using our Karbon Shine Kits to keep your wheels looking good as new!
Tire Basics
Tires are arguably the most important part of your vehicle. The tires are responsible for control while responding to your driving so it is important to pay close attention to the pressure, treadwear, and rotation schedule for your tires. We will touch on the basics of tire safety so that you can keep yourself securely on the road with these simple tips for tire inspection.
- Vehicle Tire Pressure: To find the correct pressure for your car or truck, check the owner's manual or on the vehicle information sticker located on the driver's side door jamb. It is important to check this regularly as things like cold weather can cause the pressure in tires to drop. Both over and under inflated tires can negatively impact handling and cause the tire tread to wear unevenly.
- Tire Sidewall Pressure: The PSI listed on the sidewall of the tire itself is the maximum pressure for that particular tire model. Adding more than this max pressure may cause the tire to bubble or rupture causing injury or death.
- Tire Rotation: Tires should be rotated every 6 months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles to promote even wear. This is the perfect chance to inspect your tires while you rotate to find any issues in the shop instead of on the road. If you have an aggressive or off-roading tire it is recommended to rotate every 3,000 to 5,000 miles due to a faster wear time.
- Tire Tread Depth: We recommend using a tread depth gauge to determine the exact amount of tread remaining but many people will use a US penny to get an idea of the tread life left on their tires. Take the penny and insert it into the tread with Lincoln facing upside down. If you can see all of Lincoln's face, your tread is below 2/32nds of an inch and the tires likely need to be replaced.
