Having lost a front wheel yesterday (My fault, didnt fully tighten bolts!)Made me think whether the standard wheel bolts are suitable for alloy wheels? Surely they should be a bit longer than the standard ones due to the alloy being thicker than the standard steel wheel where the holes are? (I'm assuming alloy is thicker?)

Normally alloy and steel wheel bolts are different. As well as length the taper facing of the bolt should be different offhand I seem to recall that the Skoda Superb bolts have a 60 degree face angle, also the bolts from alloy wheels can be used for steel wheeels but not the other way round.

There is no bolt for "alloy" and another for "steel"!!

Bolts are made in different lengths, diameters, thread pitch, and seat type (taper or radius)...you just need to get the correct type for the application!!

Bolts for Skoda OEM wheels may be identical whether the wheels are alloy or steel - it's best to check with a dealer.

If you can't get any straight away, take one off each of you other wheels and buy a cheap set of locking wheel nuts to see you right until you can get to the scrapyard or dealers... (depending on how much you want to spend ;-) )

As Dave, Gareth and Wayne say, there is no "simple" answer to this.

You need bolts with the correct thread and diameter (obviously) for the threads tapped in the hubs, with the correct seat for the wheels (this can vary; I've seen about 4 different seats, and the correct length of penetration into/through the hubs. In general, if the hubs use blind holes, the thread should descend into the bottom 1/4", but not reach the base of the tapping, and if they use open holes, should penetrate clear through the hole, but not foul anything behind the hub plate.

If you've been playing around with wheel swaps, and non-OEM alloys are involved, we probably need detail shots of a wheel bolt, and the seats in both types of wheel (and preferably a scale in the pictures).