HELP!!! cant get factory tires back on......

[meathead333]

ok, i feel really stupid. i was trying to put back on my factory 16's for snow tires. i jack the car up, take my 17's off. then, when i try and put the factory wheels on, i cant get the bolts to go thru the holes far enough to put the lugs on. trust me, all the bolts were lined up and in every holes snd i was using the factory lugs. i messed with it for like 20 mins before i put the 17 in back on. whats up? am i stupid or is there a trink? i have change many tires, never had this happen. HELP!

[Stang2Vibe]

meathead, try popping out the center caps and looking into the large center hole while you line the wheel back up onto the bolts. I've had this happen before on other cars. I'd bet that the center hub is not fitting into the wheel backing and so the wheel isn't sliding all the way onto the studs. Hope this helps.

[meathead333]

i think i know what you mean...but i dont have a center cap, at least i didnt see it. or did you mean the wheel cover? guess ill try again tomarrow. thanks.

[Stang2Vibe]

Oh, I was assuming that you had the 16" aluminum wheels. You have the 16" steel wheels?

[meathead333]

yep, factory 16in steel wheels

[yank dini]

You Meathead!LOL

[DavidPIL]

Just a thought and I'm really totally clueless on these things but don't some wheels come with spacers to help maintain optimal offset? If your 17" wheels had this spacer, maybe they remained on the wheel assembly thus making the OEM steel wheels not fit the same way. I really thought these spacers attached to the wheel themselves so I really don't know for sure but I thought it might be the case since it seems logical.Dave

[meathead333]

yep you figured it out! actually i was going to come on here and update you all because i figured out.....but looks like you beat me to it. yeah the plastic spacer was stuck on the wheel assembly. i saw it last night, but didnt want to pulling it off. today, i finally said "f@$k it" and ripped it off. it said "gorrilla" on it, thats the brand of locking lugs i have. anyways... heres a pic of my vibe with my factory/snow tires on with some chrome lugs i bought. i know you all like pics oh yeah, i also painted the steelies flat back

[meathead333]

oh yeah....crap

[Stang2Vibe]

are you leaving the billet grilles in for the winter too? If they were mine, I'd take them off so road salt and anti-skid materials don't ruin them.

[meathead333]

i see your point. but ill probably just leae them on for now. i am lazy