Drivers know they need to get their tire tread, balancing, and rotation checked. But did you know it’s also important to get a wheel torque check? Every vehicle manufacturer has a recommendation for wheel torque, which is how tightly your lug nuts are attached. If they are too loose or too tight, your car can have serious problems.
Our Modern Mobile Tire MMT technicians will do a wheel torque check to ensure your lug nuts are on according to your vehicle and stud or bolt size. Lug nuts do not get tightened in a circle pattern. Depending on the tire, they are tightened in a star or an “x” pattern. If your wheel torque is too tight, the lug nut or bolt will be difficult to remove on the next tire change or rotation. The nuts can strip or break and will need to be replaced. Worst case scenario, a too-tight bolt can harm your brake rotors. If the lug nuts are too loose, your wheels could come off while driving, leading to possible harm and injury to yourself, your car, and others.
A wheel torque check is necessary to keep you safe on the roads. It should be done after getting new tires, having tires rotated and balanced, and every other time the wheel is removed and replaced. A wheel torque check should be done after you’ve driven 50 miles on a newly replaced tire for optimal safety. For most people, that’s about three days’ worth of driving. Our technicians can come to you with our tools to check the lug nuts’ tightness by measuring the pounds per square inch, keeping you safe on the road.
