Wheel bolt torque conical vs ball seat

[Grimsta]

Fitted aftermarket wheels to my T6 and confused what torque is needed for the wheel bolts.
The oem wheels and ball seat bolts were tightened to 180nm which I understand is vw spec.
However the aftermarket wheels are using 60 degree tapered / conical wheel bolts which the tyre fitter suggested should be much lower at 110nm
I am wondering what torque others have used on their tapered wheel bolts or does anyone know why it should be lower for tapered bolts?

 

[CarpyT6]

Hi @Grimsta, did you get an answer to this? Looking into aftermarket wheel torque settings myself and can seem to find the right answer

 

[Grimsta]

Sadly I am still looking for a definative answer. Seems to be quite a few variables - Alloy or steel wheels, seat type, tensile strength of the bolts, vehicle weight maybe.
From everything i have read so far, too little torque and the obvious happens, too much torque and the bolt will stretch beyond it's elastic limit or shear, loosing its clamping force and giving the same outcome. Hence it feels like quite an important thing to get right. Of course I could just be overthinking it all
It would be good to hear what torque numbers others have used on aftermarket wheels without having any issues.

 

[CarpyT6]

Just found this chart online, only lists a t5 not t6 but assume it would be the same. It suggests alloys and steels are both 180nm. But also says to use manufacturer's spec where necessary. I guess for piece of mind its best to contact the manufacturer and see what they say?

 

[Grimsta]

Thanks for posting the chart. Is this refering to OEM steels or alloys using OEM cone seat bolts rather than aftermarket wheels with tapered bolts maybe? It does'nt say explicitly so i guess could be read as 180 for T5/6 regardless....

 

[DXX]

@Grimsta have you tried asking the wheel manufacturer?

 

[Grimsta]

Yes I did. They suggested 110 but that just seems low compared to the 180 vw specify. Hence thought i'd ask the question here to see what torque others are using.

 

[CarpyT6]

I've e mailed my rim manufacturer if i don't get a response I'm just gonna go with 180nm i think.

 

[Tsixty]

I had wondered the same thing. Two separate people who specialise in Transporters and are also enthusiasts themselves have both had my aftermarket wheels off recently and both said 180NM when I asked what they were going to tighten them to. Between them they have taken an awful lot of Transporter wheels off. I can't find any other advice so have to believe they know what they are doing. Given the amount of Transporters running around with aftermarket wheels fitted I think we'd know if there was a significant issue with aftermarket bolts snapping or coming loose.

 

[CarpyT6]

Thanks for the reply, sounds reassuring

 

[CarpyT6]

Finally heard back from my manufacturer they said to tighten to 180nm as the torque is appropriate for vehicle and doesn't change from oem to aftermarket wheels.

 

[Village]

I do 180nm on both sets of (after market) wheels

 

[Grimsta]

Thanks @CarpyT6 - That does make sense now