Which Wheel Brace or Wrench Do I Need?

Quick answer: Choose a wheel brace or wrench by wheel-nut size (measured across the flats) and by vehicle. For cars, a 4-way or 6-way spider (4WC, 6WC) covers the common 17–24mm nuts in one tool, or use a single hexagon L-wrench such as the HDW/0/E (19mm) or HDW/8/E (22mm). For vans, HGV and plant, use the heavier hexagon (HDW) and 12-point bi-hex (BHW) L-wrenches from 24mm up to 41mm, commercial 4- and 6-way braces (4WL, 6WL), single-ended T-bars (WBT), or the 1″ square-drive HDW/10/E for use with impact sockets. Choose a reinforced (/REIN) version for high-torque nuts, and a right-angle spanner (SES) for spare-wheel kits or specific vehicles such as Land Rover and older Jaguar. Match your nut size to a model in the table below.

A tick shows the brace suits that vehicle group, matched by wheel-nut size. Tommy bars and the support are accessories (no vehicle tick). Sizes are across-flats (AF).

Wheel Brace Suitability by Vehicle Type
Model Size Cars Vans / Light Commercial HGV / Heavy Commercial Agriculture / Plant Best for
HDW/0/E 19mm ✓ ✓ 19mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench + Tommy bar
HDW/8/E 22mm ✓ ✓ 22mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/21 21mm ✓ ✓ 21mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/4/E 24mm ✓ ✓ ✓ 24mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/5/E 27mm ✓ ✓ 27mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/1/E 28mm ✓ ✓ 28mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/11/E 1 1/8″ ✓ ✓ 1 1/8″ wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/3/E 30mm ✓ ✓ 30mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/6/E 32mm ✓ ✓ 32mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/34 34mm ✓ ✓ 34mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/36 36mm ✓ ✓ 36mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
HDW/7/E 38mm ✓ ✓ 38mm wheel nuts — hexagon L-wrench
BHW/2 24mm ✓ ✓ ✓ 24mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/3 27mm ✓ ✓ 27mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/4 28mm ✓ ✓ 28mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/5 30mm ✓ ✓ 30mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/6 32mm ✓ ✓ 32mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/7 33mm ✓ ✓ 33mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/8 34mm (1 5/16″) ✓ ✓ 34mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/9 38mm ✓ ✓ 38mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
BHW/10 41mm ✓ ✓ 41mm wheel nuts — 12-point L-wrench
HDW/4/E/REIN 24mm ✓ ✓ ✓ 24mm high-torque nuts — reinforced hexagon
HDW/5/E/REIN 27mm ✓ ✓ 27mm high-torque nuts — reinforced hexagon
HDW/3/E/REIN 30mm ✓ ✓ 30mm high-torque nuts — reinforced hexagon
HDW/6/E/REIN 32mm ✓ ✓ 32mm high-torque nuts — reinforced hexagon
HDW/12/E/REIN 33mm ✓ ✓ 33mm high-torque nuts — reinforced hexagon
HDW/7/E/REIN 38mm ✓ ✓ 38mm high-torque nuts — reinforced hexagon
BHW/2/REIN 24mm ✓ ✓ ✓ 24mm high-torque nuts — reinforced 12-point
BHW/3/REIN 27mm ✓ ✓ 27mm high-torque nuts — reinforced 12-point
BHW/4/REIN 28mm ✓ ✓ 28mm high-torque nuts — reinforced 12-point
BHW/5/REIN 30mm ✓ ✓ 30mm high-torque nuts — reinforced 12-point
BHW/6/RE 32mm ✓ ✓ 32mm high-torque nuts — reinforced 12-point
BHW/7/REIN 33mm ✓ ✓ 33mm high-torque nuts — reinforced 12-point
HDW/10/E 1″ sq drive ✓ ✓ Heavy commercial — 1″ square drive, any impact socket
HDW/10/E/DE/RE 1″ sq drive ✓ ✓ Heavy commercial — reinforced double-ended 1″ drive
4WC/1 17,19,21,22mm ✓ ✓ Car wheel nuts — 4-way spider
4WC/3 17,19,21mm + 1/2″ ✓ ✓ Car nuts + 1/2″ drive — 4-way spider
4WC/CRV 17,19,21,22mm ✓ ✓ Car wheel nuts — professional 4-way spider
4WC/CRV 17,19,21mm + 1/2″ ✓ ✓ Car nuts + 1/2″ drive — professional 4-way
6WC/P 16,17,19,21,22,24mm ✓ ✓ Car wheel nuts — 6-way spider
6WC/P/3 17,19,21,22,24mm + 1/2″ ✓ ✓ Car nuts + 1/2″ drive — 6-way spider
4WL.P 24,27,33,38mm ✓ ✓ Commercial nuts — 4-way, 500mm
4WL/EL/P 24,27,33,38mm ✓ ✓ Commercial nuts — extra-long 4-way, 650mm
6WL/P 24,27,30,32,33,38mm ✓ ✓ Commercial nuts — 6-way, 500mm
6WL/EL/P 24,27,30,32,33,38mm ✓ ✓ Commercial nuts — extra-long 6-way, 650mm
6WL/EL/3/P 24,27,32,33,38mm + 3/4″ ✓ ✓ Commercial nuts + 3/4″ drive — extra-long 6-way
WBT/12/18 38mm ✓ ✓ 38mm commercial nuts — single-ended T-bar
WBT/7 24mm ✓ ✓ ✓ 24mm commercial nuts — single-ended T-bar
SES/5 19mm ✓ 19mm car nuts — right-angle spanner (spare-kit)
SES/6 22mm ✓ 22mm car nuts — right-angle spanner (older Jaguars)
SES/2/9 17mm ✓ ✓ 17mm nuts — commercial right-angle spanner
SES/19 COMM 19mm ✓ ✓ 19mm commercial nuts — heavy-duty right-angle spanner
SES/22 COMM 22mm ✓ ✓ 22mm commercial nuts — heavy-duty right-angle spanner
SES/15/16 COMM 15/16″ (24mm) ✓ ✓ ✓ 24mm nuts — Land Rover / commercial right-angle spanner
HDW/E/TB Bar Accessory — Tommy bar for HDW hexagon/bi-hex wrenches
WBT/5/TB Bar Accessory — Tommy bar for single-ended WBT wrench
DEW/TB Bar Accessory — Tommy bar for double-ended wrench
HDW/DE/TB Bar Accessory — Tommy bar for 1″ square-drive wrench
WBS/1 Support Accessory — support for commercial wheel brace

Frequently asked questions

What size wheel brace do I need for my car?

Measure the wheel nut across the flats and match the size: 19mm nuts use the HDW/0/E, 21mm the HDW/21, and 22mm the HDW/8/E. Alternatively a 4-way spider such as the 4WC/1 covers 17, 19, 21 and 22mm in one tool.

What wrench suits HGV and commercial wheel nuts?

Commercial nuts run from 24mm to 41mm. Use a hexagon HDW or 12-point BHW L-wrench in the matching size, a commercial 4- or 6-way brace (4WL, 6WL), or the 1″ square-drive HDW/10/E with any impact socket.

What's the difference between a hexagon and a 12-point (bi-hex) wrench?

A hexagon wrench (HDW) grips the six flats of a standard nut. A 12-point bi-hex wrench (BHW) fits in twice as many positions and grips slightly rounded or worn nuts better, which is useful on older commercial vehicles.

What does the reinforced (/REIN) version mean?

Reinforced wrenches are strengthened for high-torque wheel nuts — the sort found on modern trucks and trailers where nuts are done up to a high torque and need extra strength to remove safely.

What is a Tommy bar and do I need one?

A Tommy bar is a sliding cross bar that provides the turning leverage for hexagon HDW and single-ended WBT wrenches. It's an accessory, so check whether your wrench needs one — the correct bar is listed in the table.

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