Opinions Requested - Chrome Plated vs Stainless Lug Bolts

[Ameer Antar]

>From: "Richard Hoffman" <billzcat1 at hotmail.com>

>Stainless Steel is far softer than mild steel.  Go for the chrome-plated as

I think the correct term should be weaker rather than softer. Stainless is usually harder than mild steel, but has a lower tensile strength, which means it takes less force to stretch/break apart a stainless fastener by pulling than mild steel. Hardness is a relative scale used to describe how easy it is to scratch one material with another... which is useful when selecting material for a cutting tool. Hardness is not a huge issue for fasteners, but it is for stuff like cutting tools or knives. Generally you can make metal stronger, but at the same time, you make it softer. The opposite is also true. That's why extremely hardened material can become weak/brittle. 

You'd be surprised, but there are some stainless steels that are STRONGER than mild steel. There's probably know way of knowing for sure what alloy they use for these bolts, but if they're a reputable source, I'm sure they've taken into account the appropriate calculations to sell a safe product. The idea that stainless is weaker than mild steel fasteners is b/c stainless nuts/bolts aren't graded and are probably weaker since there's no need to meet a rated strength. Between the two, I personally would go for stainless hardware b/c coatings never last, esp. on fasteners. Chroming also reduces the strength of the hardware. Just make sure you're getting these from a reputable source, not just off the shelf from a hardware store.

-Ameer