A quick google search turned up nothing.
Why do vehicles have a different number of studs/ bolts on the wheels?
Smart cars have 3, older Honda civics have 4, lots of cars and cross-overs have 5, and it seems anything on a truck platform has 6. Some really heavy-duty trucks have 10.
Is it just for shear strength? Maybe a vehicle that weighs more needs more? But a 5800 pound Rolls Royce only has 5...
Although isn't most of the downward force exerted by the weight of the vehicle being countered by the friction between the rim and disk/drum instead of being pushed on the studs themselves? So in this way, the studs and lug nuts are just providing pressure?
I almost thought that with more torque produced, more studs/bolts would be required, but look at the Mercedes Cl55 AMG with 516 ft/lb at 2750 rpm with only 5 bolts...
This has got me stumped.
