Wheel nuts - to lubricate or not ......?

[guest4132]

I have bought a second set of wheels and plan to fit winter tyres and therefore swap the wheels twice a year.  I have also bought a torque wrench.  I have been searching for advice on whether or not to put any copper ease grease lubricant on (a) the hub and (b) the wheel bolts.  Searching the web produces large numbers who say "yes" to a small amount of copper grease on the thread and just as many that say, "no grease at all".   

Most agree that a small amount on the hub is a good idea.   

What is the advice on this forum?

The second set of alloys have come with plastic spigot sleeves (if that's the correct term?).  Do I need these? 

[guest2982]

as you will be swapping them twice a year anyway, no chance for them to rust badly
actually I haven't seen any signs of rust on hub bolts and nuts and that's 2002 car
must be rust proof material   

[Garyman]

Not sure on the hub but I personally put some copper grease on the thread when I change my alloys over

[chrisc]

Always put grease on.  On the thread and the conical section too.  Just a touch though

[guest3170]

Grease between wheel and hub. I never had a bolt stick but I have had a wheel stick to the hub. It required much kicking and swearing to get it off...

[culzean]

beware that torque settings for bolts are normally given for a clean dry thread.  But i always put a little smear of copper grease on the thread and a bit on the hub centre spigot (yes I have had a hub stick as well and did a bit of swearing as well).  copper grease not so important with sealed chrome wheelnuts because they do a pretty good job of keeping water etc off the thread, and as these normally come with alloys it is easier to over-tighten if thread has grease on it