# Wheel spikes > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wheel_spikes > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wheel_spikes.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_spikes > Source revision: 1342195014 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Not to be confused with [Tire studs](/source/Tire_studs) or [Swangas](/source/Swangas). **Wheel spikes** are pointy protrusions attached to the [wheels](/source/Wheel) or [hubcaps](/source/Hubcap) of vehicles, most commonly [cars](/source/Car) and [semi-trucks](/source/Semi-trailer_truck). Most wheel spikes sold are made out of [plastic](/source/Plastic) painted to mimic metal and are primarily [novelty items](/source/Novelty_item).[1][2][3] The safety and legality of wheel spikes have often been questioned, and they may constitute a [traffic violation](/source/Moving_violation) in some jurisdictions.[4] ## Overview Wheel spikes attached to the hubcaps of semi trucks are essentially stylized versions of plastic [lug nut](/source/Lug_nut) covers, which may offer protection from [rusting](/source/Rust) and have more common round and flat counterparts.[1][2] Some wheel spikes applied to cars, known as "swangers," are much larger and longer and are permanently attached to the rims, and usually command much higher prices, from [US$](/source/United_States_dollar)4,500 to US$10,000.[5][6] Wheel spikes are commonly associated with the [post-apocalyptic](/source/Apocalyptic_and_post-apocalyptic_fiction) franchise *[Mad Max](/source/Mad_Max)*, where many characters have spikes in the wheels of their vehicles, which serve both to attack and defend against other vehicles.[1][7][8] ## Legality Wheel spikes often cause controversy due to their menacing appearance despite being mostly made of plastic and easily removed or broken off. However, they may cause injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, and their use may break laws regarding maximum vehicle width.[1][2] Some private transport companies prohibit [drivers](/source/Truck_driver) from attaching wheel spikes to the wheels of company-owned vehicles to avoid a negative [public image](/source/Public_relations).[4] Wheel spikes and other "projections on the face of wheels" are prohibited in [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) since 2016.[9] In the state of [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)), the [Revised Code of Washington](/source/Revised_Code_of_Washington) prohibits "wheel nuts, hub caps or wheel discs [...] which: (a) incorporate winged projections; or (b) constitute a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists."[2] A bill proposed in the [New York State Senate](/source/New_York_State_Senate) in 2015 intended to ban "dangerous wheels," defined as sharp wheel accessories that extend over 2 inches (51 millimeters).[10] Other US states may prohibit wheel spikes only if they extend the width of the vehicle beyond a specific limit. For example, in [Texas](/source/Texas), it is 8 feet (2.4 meters) for passenger cars,[6] and in [Florida](/source/Florida), the limit is 8.5 feet (2.6 meters).[3] In the [Australian](/source/Australia) state of [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)), fitting vehicles with "any protruding object that is likely to increase the risk of bodily injury" is punishable with an [AU$](/source/Australian_dollar)379 [fine](/source/Fine_(penalty)), and wheel spikes may also increase the width of a vehicle beyond the legal limit of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet).[8] ## See also - [Scythed chariot](/source/Scythed_chariot) – An ancient, military counterpart ## References 1. Richards, Gary (2013-12-06). ["Roadshow: Scary hubcap spikes are harmless"](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2013/12/06/roadshow-scary-hubcap-spikes-are-harmless/). *East Bay Times*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. Dahl, Doug (2019-05-27). ["Are those spiky lug nuts you see on semis dangerous? Are they even legal?"](https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/traffic/rules-of-the-road/article230771624.html). *The Bellingham Herald*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. Censullo, Meredyth (2019-06-20). ["What's the point of wheel spikes?"](https://www.wfla.com/news/traffic/road-rants/whats-the-point-of-wheel-spikes/). *WFLA-TV*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. Roberts, Bryan M. (2017-05-10). ["Are Spiked Wheel Ornaments a Safety Hazard?"](https://www.natlawreview.com/article/are-spiked-wheel-ornaments-safety-hazard?amp). *The National Law Review*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. Torchinsky, Jason (2018-03-19). ["If You're Wondering What Those Ben-Hur Wheel Spikes Are And If They're Legal We're Here To Help"](https://jalopnik.com/if-youre-wondering-what-those-ben-hur-wheel-spikes-are-1823893049/amp). *Jalopnik*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. Lee, Jenni (2018-06-26). ["Exaggerated tire rims ('swangers'): Are they legal?"](https://www.khou.com/article/news/exaggerated-tire-rims-swangers-are-they-legal/285-567542949). *KHOU*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. Tudose, Sergiu (2017-12-17). ["Apocalyptic Truck Spotted Pulling Amazon Prime Trailer"](https://www.carscoops.com/2017/12/apocalyptic-truck-spotted-pulling/). *Carscoops*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. ["Outcry over 'Mad Max' truck spikes"](https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au/news/outcry-over-deadly-truck-spikes/). *Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly*. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. ["2023 Hawaii Revised Statutes - Title 17. Motor and Other Vehicles - 291. Traffic Violations - 291-33 Projections on face of wheels prohibited"](https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-17/chapter-291/section-291-33/). *law.justia.com*. Retrieved 2024-08-03. 1. ["NY State Senate Bill S2393: 2015-2016 Legislative Session"](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/2015-s2393). *NY State Senate*. 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2024-08-03. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wheel spikes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_spikes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_spikes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.