can you drive a car with only 4 lug nuts

[DiLola]

Driving a car that is missing one lug nut is extremely dangerous and should only be done to slowly and carefully move the vehicle a very short distance, such as from the road to a nearby parking lot or driveway. Continuing to drive normally with a missing lug nut puts excessive stress on the remaining wheel fasteners, which can lead to them loosening or shearing off entirely, potentially causing the wheel to detach.

A wheel assembly is engineered for all its lug nuts to share the load equally. When one is missing, the others must compensate, leading to uneven clamping force and increased vibration. This can cause the remaining lug nuts to loosen over time due to the uneven torque distribution. The wheel studs themselves can also become bent or damaged from the uneven pressure.

The risk is highest during maneuvers like cornering and braking, where forces on the wheel are greatest. The consequences of a wheel separation at speed are catastrophic. For your safety and the safety of others on the road, you should address the issue immediately.

Factor	Why It's Critical	Data / Standard
Load Distribution	4 out of 5 lug nuts means the remaining 4 bear 25% more load each.	Engineering safety margin is reduced by over 20%.
Vibration	Missing nut causes imbalance, shaking the wheel and steering wheel.	Can be felt at speeds as low as 35-45 mph.
Heat Cycling	Repeated heating (braking) and cooling weakens the over-stressed studs.	Studs can fatigue and fail with as few as 100 miles of driving.
Torque Loss	Vibration and uneven load cause remaining nuts to loosen rapidly.	A stud can lose up to 50% of its clamp load after a short drive.
Cornering Stress	Lateral forces in a turn are not evenly supported.	Risk of stud shear failure increases by approximately 300%.

The only safe course of action is to replace the missing lug nut as soon as possible. If you have a spare tire, it's often safer to install it, as the spare's wheel will have all its lug nuts intact. If you must drive a short distance, keep your speed under 25 mph, avoid sudden braking or sharp turns, and get the problem fixed immediately.

[RubyLee]

No, don't do it. I learned this the hard way when an old truck of mine started shaking violently on the highway after I lost a lug nut and ignored it. The vibration got so bad I thought the wheel was going to fall off. I had to white-knuckle it to the next exit. It's not just about the one missing nut; the shaking loosens the others. It’s a ticking time bomb. Get it towed or crawl to the nearest shop, but don’t risk a normal drive.

[SanAurora]

Think of it like a chair with one leg missing. It might hold you for a second, but it's unstable and will collapse under stress. Your car's wheel is the same. Each lug nut provides crucial clamping force. Missing one means the load isn't distributed correctly. This puts extra strain on the wheel studs, which can stretch or break. The immediate danger is the wheel loosening, causing a wobble that can quickly escalate. It's a fundamental safety compromise. Replace the lug nut before driving any significant distance.