Well the studs are in have almost a week of DD and a trackday at Streets of Willow on them. Holding just fine.
I checked the torque after the wheels cooled after each run session. There was a smidge of tightening that needed to be done due to some stud stretch after the first two sessions but after that they stayed solid @ 83 ft/lbs (Been told amounts from 80-85 so I split the difference). Swapped back to street tires and rims and I have been happy.
Good stuff!
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In my case: I got a set of 17"/17 lb wheels but the acorn seat was too narrow for the lug bolts to seat. So a swap to 12mm studs enable me to use lug nuts that have a narrower acorn seat.
Had I gotten a set of rims that had a better fitting acorn seat I wouldn't have bothered with the swap to studs. However, I got those rims with new tires on them for $300. Kinda hard to say no to that.
There is no decernable performance advantage. Some guys/gals find them easier for swapping wheels (AutoXes and track events). It does allow for a wider selection of aftermarket wheels on the later generation MINIs as well. -
When you are swapping wheels at a prodigious rate it is a heck of lot easier to hang them on the studs than line up those bolts.
Plus you can use these really lightweight tapered seat lug nuts.
![[IMG]](http://www.optionimports.com/mmCarex/images/web/kics/R26descimg.jpg)
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I have it on a very good authority that someone, who was not a friend of the driver, actually backed off the lugs just before. The wheels came off way to early just due to them being lose.
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