Mk3 Wheels On Mk2

[Radiomike]

Hi guys, just picked up a set of delivery mileage 8x18 mk3 wheels with 235/40/18 tyres and am trying to fit them to my mk2. All the critical dimensions such as PCD, offset and hub bore are the same and the wheels fit with no clearance issues but I have a problem with the studs and nuts in that the mk2 wheels have a deep chamfer where the wheel nut fits while the mk3 wheels have a shallow chamfer. Both cars use the same wheel nuts with the large tapered washer so the result is not enough thread engagement; are there alternative nuts available or do I need to look into longer studs? Any info most appreciated.

[JW1982]

The MK2/MK2.5 wheel nuts are different from the MK3/MK3.5 wheel nuts. You can not use the MK2/MK2.5 wheel nuts on the MK3/MK3.5 Wheels and vice versa. You have to use the correct type of wheel nuts for the type of Wheels you have.

A few years ago Ford decided to standardize the (technical) design of the wheels and wheel nuts to a global Ford standard. In technical documentation these new type of wheels and wheel nuts are called Global wheels and Global wheel nuts. Nowadays the Global wheels and wheel nuts are used on most different Ford models arround the word. The alloy Global wheels and wheel nuts can only be used together. The old allow wheel nuts can not be used on the new global wheels.

Early Focus MK3 models (produced before 11-05-2012) did have the new type global Wheels combined with the old design 1-piece (solid) wheel nuts. However this combination does not fit to most other Ford models.

[Radiomike]

Thanks for the reply but I have compared the wheel nuts from the 2.5 with factory fit 7.5x18 wheels (1593728) with both the nuts supplied with a brand new 3.5 8x18 wheel (1792925) and a 2012 mk 3 on a friendly dealer site and they are all identical. The problem I have is that the chamfer on the 7.5" wheel is much deeper than the later 8" wheel and I have insufficient thread engagement.

These are the wheel nuts on eBay from a Ford dealer, for some reason I cannot copy and paste the link. eBay item 281209865675.

[JW1982]

Finis 1792925 is a Focus MK3 wheel which is used for several years. If this wheel was originally installed to an early Focus MK3 (produced before 11-05-2012) it has the old design wheel nuts. After 11-05-2012 these Wheels came with the new design Global wheel nuts. As far as I remember the Focus MK3 wheel hubs have longer studs than the Focus MK2 wheel hubs.

Personally I would first try the fitment of the new design Global wheel nuts. The global wheel nuts are a bit smaller and sit a bit deeper inside the cavity of the wheel. This may solve your problem. The Global wheel nuts have Finis number 5114407 and will cost about €4,75 each.

If the global wheel nuts do not solve your problem you could install longer studs into the wheel hubs. Ford does not sell these studs so you have to find aftermarket studs that fit into the Ford hubs. To remove/install the studs the wheel hubs need to be removed from the car. There is not enough clearance to change the studs with the hubs installed to the car.

[Radiomike]

Once again thanks for your valuable comments, I was going to go down the longer stud route but this would limit my options in the future ie using the old wheels with winter tyres. By chance I checked out the OE nuts to find the first 6mm has no thread and is purely a lead in to make life easy when starting them, I also checked out the number of turns from fully tight to removal at circa 8 revolutions. I have an aftermarket wheel specialist just up the road who specialises in replacement wheel nuts and bolts and his replacements for the Focus were threaded right to the end, a quick try on the new wheels and we had a full 8 turns-result!

The Michelin Pilots have totally transformed the car, far smoother and huge amounts of grip while the wheels look stunning. To cap it all off what I thought was the start of a rear wheel bearing failure turned out to be a Continental Contisport 2 grumbling away to itself and finally with the marginally taller tyres the speedo and GPS are spot on at 70mph.

[chrisroberson99]

Out here in Cyprus i have seen a few MK2/2.5s with MK3 wheels on so it must be possible.

[JW1982]

It is possible but you have to use the correct wheel nuts.