GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I recently purchased a used set of factory alloy rims off a 2003 or 04 Vibe in hopes of using them on our 2009 Vibe. Ours came with factory steel rims so I knew that I would need new mag-seat type of lugnuts. I picked up a set of M12-1.5 x42mm but they don't seem to be anywhere near long enough. The hole clearance on the alloys is tight and almost looks like a thin socket is needed. When we picked up the rims it looked like the original owner had the original lugnuts on her steel rims and they looked like maybe 3" long? I've poked around the forums and googled it but still not sure which lugnuts to buy.

They're called mag wheel lug nuts.

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Just search "toyota mag wheel lug nuts" they're not too expensive. Or go to junkyard.

I paid just under $50 total for 20 of them at NAPA a few months ago, The Goodyear store that severely over-torqued my old lug nuts gave me $50 store credit, then went out of business before I could claim it. Then my kid wrecked the car. So it goes.

I bought the same set on ebay for my son's car when I changed his steel wheels for the 17" alloys and they work great. It is a tight fit for the lug wrench, but it does fit.

Here are the original lug nuts from my 03 Vibe that came with the alloys:

I actually got a set of longer ones for myself. I have them on my Solara and liked them better.

Like these, but genuine Toyota ones.

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Thanks everyone for the advice. The pictures are great. I believe my mags are different from the ones photographed where the lug nuts pass through. (it could be that the previous owner was mistaken about the year of her Vibe) I measured approx. 28mm+ to almost 29mm in diameter at the top and somewhere around 45mm from face of rim hole to where the inner bevel begins. So I don't believe the short ones would work as I tried 42mm long ones already. The referred ebay listed ones (extended) may be long enough at 50mm in length but the 30mm width at the washer isn't going to clear. Still not sure. As I mentioned a casual glance at her car with the steel rims on using (I expect) the original mag lugnuts they looked very long like maybe 2 1/2 to 3". I wished I had measured them while there.

I took a couple of pictures but not sure how to upload them from a private computer...

Thanks, tom

butternutaud wrote:Thanks everyone for the advice. The pictures are great. I believe my mags are different from the ones photographed where the lug nuts pass through. (it could be that the previous owner was mistaken about the year of her Vibe) I measured approx. 28mm+ to almost 29mm in diameter at the top and somewhere around 45mm from face of rim hole to where the inner bevel begins. So I don't believe the short ones would work as I tried 42mm long ones already. The referred ebay listed ones (extended) may be long enough at 50mm in length but the 30mm width at the washer isn't going to clear. Still not sure. As I mentioned a casual glance at her car with the steel rims on using (I expect) the original mag lugnuts they looked very long like maybe 2 1/2 to 3". I wished I had measured them while there.

I took a couple of pictures but not sure how to upload them from a private computer...

Thanks, tom

Well, if the wheels you bought have an inner bevel on the lug nut holes, then they are NOT factory Vibe alloy wheels. All of the Vibe alloy wheels have a flat mounting surface that the flat washer on the mag wheel lug nuts seats against. Post up some pics of the wheels if you can so we can confirm. I post mine on Photobucket.com and link to them here. Or email them to me at trbkrb at yahoo dot com and I can post them.

If they are not Vibe wheels, then you would probably need the tapered type to mount against the bevel on the wheels. That might be why yours have such a small hole since they require longer aftermarket lug nuts.

Oh, and FWIW, there were only 3 styles of factory alloy wheels on the 03-08 Vibes.

16"

17"

17" Chrome - usually dealer installed

Tom,

Got your pics, but can't reply from my phone, or get to my personal email at work! Dang IT department! I'll post them up tonight.

Yes, those are not Vibe wheels, but I've seen some like it before. The Pontiac centercap does not fit too well on them! Looks like you will have to find some longer lug nuts to fit them.

Here are the OP's pics:






I thought I've seen these on a Pontiac before, but maybe it was some other car if the are ARE wheels.

With the taper like that, won't any acorn nut work?

Thanks for posting the pictures. I appreciate that. I'm still searching the net for info on this particular ARE rim but nothing yet. The problem with the rims is that there is little clearance for a socket as well as no clearance for the car's lug wrench. And the clearance hole seems to be particularly deep like around 45mm before the flat inner face. I wished I'd bought the seller's lugnuts and replaced them with conventional ones for her steel rims. But that would of been kinda awkward to ask somebody if you can jack up their car, take off all tires and exchange lugnuts....

Those security lug nuts that come with a special deep socket are pretty skinny. They might fit. I had them on my Honda Civic wheels.

Those are American Racing Wheels. I forget the actual name of the wheel, but that style was popular in the 80's and 90's. I have a set of those I use for winter wheels on my Buick. I use tuner style lug nuts on them, because like you said the hole clearance is tight to get to the lug nuts. I have to use a 4 way lug wrench/or socket to get the lug nuts off, because a stock lug wrench won't fit in the hole.

butternutaud wrote:I recently purchased a used set of factory alloy rims off a 2003 or 04 Vibe in hopes of using them on our 2009 Vibe. Ours came with factory steel rims so I knew that I would need new mag-seat type of lugnuts. I picked up a set of M12-1.5 x42mm but they don't seem to be anywhere near long enough.

any idea what size the lugs were for the steel rims? I'm looking for a set for my winter rims.

robtco99 wrote:Those are American Racing Wheels. I forget the actual name of the wheel, but that style was popular in the 80's and 90's. I have a set of those I use for winter wheels on my Buick. I use tuner style lug nuts on them, because like you said the hole clearance is tight to get to the lug nuts. I have to use a 4 way lug wrench/or socket to get the lug nuts off, because a stock lug wrench won't fit in the hole.

I'm seconding the tuner-style lug nuts.

Thanks guys! Mystery solved. Now I need to decide whether to sell the rims get conventional ones or get a set of tuner lugnuts.