I totally know what you go through. I have them on my Dodge RAM and one of them decided to do just that. So now I have to carry an odd sized lug wrench just for that one sucker.
I do have solid ones on my Highlander Hybrid. So they do exist.
I can only make a suggestion. From multiple previous experiences, I found that if you have alloys, you must have OEM type lugs designed for alloys. Simple cheapo bolt through cone shaped lugs, in my experience, self weld or something to alloy, and require huge torque to undo them. This is how I broke quite a few studs. I had this on most of our vehicles with alloy wheels, starting with 1986 LeBaron. That was through rather financially challenging years of our life, so I was saving money on everything, as OEM lugs are very expensive. Ones for wife's RX300 were $15 each.
Point to my speech is simple. Look around and you'll find proper lugs. But make sure, if you have alloys, of course, that you buy lugs shaped just like OEM ones. They have short sleeve going into the alloy stud hole.
Should you have steel rims - it's whatever.

 

I looked at the sizes and they match what is on my 99 Camry. The stud is the same size. Find a model with solid lug nuts of the correct length and replace them.

 

My '08 lugs are perfect. Buy new OE lug nuts, and buy a torque wrench with a quality metric lugnut socket and you won't have a problem in the future.

Another option is to hit the salvage yard pick your parts....

 

When I had that problem on my Tacoma, I purchased a set off eBay. They were solid and better quality than Toyota’s two piece lug nuts.

 

Use the right size socket .. its metric.. and throw that impact driver away.

 

I don’t mount and balance my own tires, nor do I patch my own flat tires, so that advice doesn’t always work. And might as well add that you should not use the spare tire tools Toyota provides in case of a flat. That lug nut wrench of theirs is what caused the lug nuts on my Tacoma to deform.

 

I agree that the tools that come with the vehicle are a last resort only..

 

All Toyota lugs are practically the same if you have mag wheels, the only thing that will change on some is how long they are... but 90% of them are M12x1.5 Toyota Shank lug nuts (even the Vibe has them).

So if you're at the dealership for an oil change, ask the mechanic if they can spare one or two, usually they have a bunch... if not even on ebay you can buy them.

With that said, I've never had any issues with mine, I don't use the impact wrench on them... however I have a Milwaukee (and also an old Motomaster) impact driver that I use only once I've loosened them with the cross-wrench, this way there's no impact banging the sleeves on them.

 

Those tin caps are crap. Have them on my wifes 4x4 and once off you need to use a socket the next size down. My 4x4 has solid lugs. Its hard to tell when you're buying the vehicle. If you know the thread check at a wreckers who usually have bin full lugs free. Impact gun doesn't wreck them as I never use the vehicle tools on it anyway. I been doing it for decades. Shops putting tires on some time bugger them up and over tighten as well which is almost a given.

 

Yeah I just coughed up like $100 bucks at the dealer for new ones like a year ago...

 

About $20 for higher quality, solid ones on eBay.

 

Bought the highlander used, came with the messed up nuts. Believe me, I have all the proper tools! They make these nuts that way because its cheaper than making solid nuts. I won't be buying the more expensive less quality nuts from the dealer. I will be getting some quality solid nuts, probably from ebay like everyone else. If I had the time I'd machine my own, but my mill and lathe have better things to do.

Brick

 

One Piece Lug Nuts



Yes, I bought some solid ones at NAPA. Can't tell the difference. I agree with you - major pain in the balls, for sure. Poorly engineered part. Shouldn't take all day to get those nuts off.

 

I understand if this was a low end cheap vehicle.

IT AIN'T CHEAP so why do they do this. From reading about the HL I will soon have. I have to get a special tool to remove the oil cartridge case. I was going to call them but maybe just go straight and order one on eBay.