Do you have to get your lug nuts tightened after getting new tires?
Lug nuts must be torqued to the manufacturer’s recommended values, and they must be re-torqued to those values after driving approximately 50 to 100 miles on your new tires after the tire service. Both under and over tightening can be dangerous.
How do you tighten lug nuts when changing a tire?
Tighten the Lug Nuts by Hand Put the lug nuts back on the lug bolts and tighten them all the way by hand. Once they are all on, check each one again, tightening as much as possible. You will tighten them with the wrench after lowering the vehicle to the ground.
What happens if you don’t get your tires torqued?
If the lug nuts are too tight, they can cause severe problems such as stripping the fastener threads or stretching the wheel studs. They could also warp the brake drums, rotors, or hubs. With loose nuts, meanwhile, there’s a small risk that the wheel could come off while you’re on the road.
How much should I tighten my lug nuts?
New wheels should be re-torqued after the first 50 to 100 driving miles.
| Hardware Bolt or Stud Size | Typical Torque Range in Ft/Lbs | Minimum Number of Turns of Hardware Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| 12 x 1.25 mm | 70 – 80 | 8 |
| 14 x 1.5 mm | 85 – 90 | 7.5 |
| 14 x 1.25 mm | 85 – 90 | 9 |
| 7/16 in. | 70 – 80 | 9 |
When do you need to do wheel lug torquing?
This should be done in case the clamping loads have changed following the initial installation due to the metal compression/elongation or thermal stresses affecting the wheels as they are breaking in, as well as to verify the accuracy of the original installation.
What happens if you over tighten wheel lug?
These will prevent over-tightening the hardware, stripping the fastener threads, and stretching the studs. It will also reduce the possibility of warping the brake drums, rotors or hubs. Under- or over-tightening wheel-attaching hardware can be damaging and dangerous. Torque specifications are for dry threads only.
What should I do if my tire won’t come off?
Another tactic would be to install a few lug nuts loosely (about 4 turns) and then lower the vehicle. At this point you can try shaking the car from side to side. This also has been proven a good way to loosen up a problem like this. Feel free to contact me with any further troubles or if you prefer a second opinion!
How can I increase the size of my tire patch?
There are two ways to increase the size of the tire’s contact patch: make it longer or wider. A longer patch of tire tread means that the tire’s overall diameter increases. This works better on a four-wheel-drive truck, but if you increase the diameter of the tire on most passenger cars, you’ll have problems.