What's the deal with spikes covering lug nuts on big rigs?

As far as the danger to other vehicles, the lug nuts are only a few inches long. The mirrors and other parts of the truck extend out several feet, so lug nuts that are only a few inches long are not extending past anything else on the vehicle.

In the description, it also mentions the lug nut covers protecting the lug nuts from salt and hazards of the road.

Here’s an example. Only 4 inches in the details: Not sticking out far enough to damage other vehicles.

https://www.finditparts.com/products/8266666/united-pacific-10351b?srcid=CHL01SCL019&msclkid=c44b961a7f8018d361f6f204d5d989f2&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20Campaign%20-%20Primary&utm_term=4580496733736000&utm_content=All%20Products

Exactly^^ and it is just an aesthetic thing.
I never got into the spike look ,they are all just chrome plastic and protect the lug bolts from the elements.

It was just Mad Max. No foul, no harm.

@jca2 “As far as the danger to other vehicles, the lug nuts are only a few inches long. The mirrors and other parts of the truck extend out several feet, so lug nuts that are only a few inches long are not extending past anything else on the vehicle.”

True, but that’s assuming you’re not approaching at an oblique angle (such as during a collision). It just seems like people shouldn’t be mounting pointy objects on the exterior of vehicles because they think it makes them look tough or whatever.

@gorillapaws I don’t know. I’m guessing if you collide with a truck, the lug nuts are the least of your problems. Maybe @SQUEEKY2 can weigh in with some more details or opinions about the danger.

against another vehicle they wouldn’t stand up after all as I said they are just made of plastic, they would be another story against a human,or animal.

It’s to make them look pretty! Regular lug nuts are not chrome plated and are very unattractive. It’s like adding more little clearance lights to the tractor and trailer. It all serves no purpose, really.

They are chromed plastic covers and pop off easily so the tire can be changed.
In my opinion they are ridiculous decorations not unlike truck nuts. But, hey, I’m not the guy driving that rig 8 hours a day.

Boy Toys.

I think most 18 wheelers naturally identify as male, assuming there’s no opposite gender affirming mechanical overhaul done by a qualified deisel therapist – In which case drivers may use the lane of their choice :

https://postimg.cc/TLMgNSZL/cce7c5c8

@JLoon I don’t know how you find these things, but it is masterful and brings me boundless joy. You, madmoiselle, have won the internet. Your certificate of victory is in the mail, along with a 20% coupon to Bed Bath and Beyond for selected items.

@gorillapaws Now if she could just spell “diesel” ...

Holy synchronicity! You asked this like two days after someone asked me this exact same question, and I thought at the time about asking it on Fluther, but didn’t.

Well, but she wasn’t asking about spiked ones, just regular (not quite as long, but still) large lug nuts protruding from the side of the front wheel, where, mirrors notwithstanding, it looks could come in contact with a car side-swiping it there, and I expect the spinning bolts wouldn’t need sharp points to rip through the side of a car. I think it just rarely would happen that anyone would get that close to that spot without also tending to be in even more grave danger from the rest of the truck.

In fact, I think chunky lug nuts would tend to do more damage than those chrome spikes, if spinning at freeway speeds.

@Zaku well yeah because those spiked covers are just chrome plastic.