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The best wheel nut wrenches for wheel maintenance

  • Wheel nuts keep your wheels attached to your car
  • This simple tool will make changing wheels easier
  • One of these tools is a toolbox essential

Written by Ryan Gilmore Updated: 10 August 2023

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A person using a wheel nut wrench on a car
A person using a wheel nut wrench on a car

Also known as wheel lug wrenches, wheel nut wrenches are one of the best tools to have if you’re a car owner. Wheel nut wrenches are compact tools that are designed to work with wheel nuts (also called lug nuts) – the nuts that hold a wheel in place on a vehicle.

So if you’re needing to replace a flat tyre at the side of the road or adjust an over-torqued nut a simple device like this will be a simple but worthwhile investment. Most new cars come with one as standard alongside a basic car jack but there’s no guarantee it’ll be there, especially if the car is second-hand.

We’ve found the best wheel nut wrenches for sale and each one will be perfect to keep in your car at all times in case there’s a wheel-related breakdown you need to attend to.

The best wheel nut wrenches

<strong>The best wheel nut wrench</strong>

Price: $33.86
The longer the handle on a wrench, the easier it'll be to remove torqued nuts. This wrench extends from 205mm to 485mm to help with more stubborn wheel nuts. It then slides back down for easy storage. It's made from carbon steel and features a 1/2" square drive and 17 x 19mm sockets. It's our top choice of wheel nut wrenches and the perfect way to stay safe on the road.

Pros

  • Easy storage
  • Top-quality

Cons

  • An expensive choice

<strong>The best wheel nut wrench on a budget</strong>

Price: $23.29
If you're still after a traditional wheel lug wrench but are looking for something a little cheaper, Rolson has a stellar reputation for quality and this wrench will do the job just fine. It too is durable and extendable, all the way to 530mm which will make loosening tight nuts really easy. It ships with a 1/2" square drive and 17 x 19mm reversible sockets.

Pros

  • Easy storage
  • Good-quality

Cons

  • Not as tough as the Draper

<strong>The best cross-wheel nut wrench</strong>

Price: $23.29
Cross wheel nut wrenches are a variation of the standard wheel nut wrench, offering a greater selection of socket sizes in a small and compact design. This one from Draper features 17, 19, 21 and 22 mm sockets all finished in an enamelled finish with an arm length of 380mm. The cross-design may make working with nuts easier for some but it's largely personal preference.

Pros

  • Lots of socket sizes
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Not as space-saving

<strong>The best cross-wheel nut wrench on a budget</strong>

Almost exactly the same as the Draper four-way nut wrench, this option from Goodyear offers 17, 19, 21 and 23 mm socket sizes in the same cross design. It's made from carbon steel and designed for heavy-duty use, including trucks and vans so it should be dependable.

Pros

  • Lots of socket sizes
  • Heavy duty

Cons

  • Not very space-saving

<strong>The best wheel nut wrench with a tyre iron</strong>

Price: $27.18
If you own a classic (1950s or earlier) car, you'll probably need to invest in a tyre iron if your tyres are period correct. If they're not tubeless you'll need one of these to separate the wheel from the rim. It also comes complete with a 19mm (3/4") socket and an enamelled finish to keep it looking good.

Pros

  • Perfect for classic cars
  • Well-made

Cons

  • Not needed for any modern car

What you should know about wheel nut wrenches?

Can they be used for anything other than wheels?

Not really. While it’s true that they’ll work as a regular wrench in a pinch, they’re not really designed for anything other than wheels and it won’t be a particularly good time to use. For normal wrenching, get a proper torque wrench.

Are they different to other wrenches?

Wheel nut wrenches have a particular use and are designed for roadside maintenance. That’s why they’re quite small and lightweight, perfect for keeping in the car. While they’re not the strongest wrench, they’re perfect for breakdowns

Is it the same thing as a tyre iron?

A tyre iron is a largely outdated tool used to pry a flat tyre away from the rim in order to change it. Since the mass adoption of tubeless tyres, tyre irons are now obsolete as there’s no reason to remove the tyre while leaving the wheel in place. They’re only really required if you have a car made before the 1950s.

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