Re-torqueing Lug Nuts...Fact or Myth?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Mt. Pleasant SC
Re-torqueing Lug Nuts...Fact or Myth?
I've heard many "tire experts" claim that you must re-torque your lug nuts after about 50 miles following installation. For alloy wheels is that fact or myth?
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,873
Likes: 5,649
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I was also told to check lug nuts after a few miles. Make sure you use a torque wrench cause you can warp your rotors if they aren't tighten properly.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Many shops and people overtorque their lugs... 100 ft/lbs means 100 ft/lbs... not "click" then a little more for good measure.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Fact.
On a car I had prior to the Vette, the day after I had new tires mounted, all the lug nuts loosened up on the left front wheel. I thought the tire store idiot must have forgotten to tighten that one. I retorqued them on the side of the road and went on my way.
2 days later, the same wheel came loose again.
Well, this time I knew it wasn't anyone's fault. I again tightened it, this time with a drop of med. strength loctite on each lug...and it was never a problem again.
But moral of the story is yes, aluminum has a different expansion rate than of the steel hub it's fastened to, so some heat/cool cycles can cause things to loosen. It's easy enough to check the torque a couple days later.
On a car I had prior to the Vette, the day after I had new tires mounted, all the lug nuts loosened up on the left front wheel. I thought the tire store idiot must have forgotten to tighten that one. I retorqued them on the side of the road and went on my way.
2 days later, the same wheel came loose again.
Well, this time I knew it wasn't anyone's fault. I again tightened it, this time with a drop of med. strength loctite on each lug...and it was never a problem again.
But moral of the story is yes, aluminum has a different expansion rate than of the steel hub it's fastened to, so some heat/cool cycles can cause things to loosen. It's easy enough to check the torque a couple days later.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Don't do that... in between sessions the metal is hot and the lugs/studs are expanded. Torqing them can result in that state can overdo it and snap a stud. You want to make sure it's completely cool like during lunch hour.
Many shops and people overtorque their lugs... 100 ft/lbs means 100 ft/lbs... not "click" then a little more for good measure.
Many shops and people overtorque their lugs... 100 ft/lbs means 100 ft/lbs... not "click" then a little more for good measure.
And I use 100ft lbs. though I heard that some racers like 95 ft lbs. I am not sure if I could even tell the difference.
.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Woodstock Ontario
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
whenver we have had tires changed or rotated at Discount tire on wheels over 16 inches they include a note... bring your vehicle back after 50 miles so that we can re-torque your wheel lug nuts...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
FACT, I always do this and some are "loose" or under torque.
Another thing that bothers me, some people put oil or grease on their lugs or lug nuts. Don't EVER do this UNLESS YOU ENJOY CHASING YOUR WHEELS/TIRES DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY COME OFF THE CAR ! Use a wire brush to clean off any rust or dirt.
Another thing that bothers me, some people put oil or grease on their lugs or lug nuts. Don't EVER do this UNLESS YOU ENJOY CHASING YOUR WHEELS/TIRES DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY COME OFF THE CAR ! Use a wire brush to clean off any rust or dirt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
From: Rednecks-R-Us
I usually just install the lug nuts with the car off the ground, then when it's on the ground take a few cranks on the nut w/ a breaker bar. I can't imagine I put mine in anymore than 50-60ft-lbs. Never re-torqued and never had a problem.
I know, bad habbit I learned from my dad, but hey, neither of us have ever had a wheel fly off, so it can't be that bad (hopefully)!
I know, bad habbit I learned from my dad, but hey, neither of us have ever had a wheel fly off, so it can't be that bad (hopefully)!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 555
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
I usually just install the lug nuts with the car off the ground, then when it's on the ground take a few cranks on the nut w/ a breaker bar. I can't imagine I put mine in anymore than 50-60ft-lbs. Never re-torqued and never had a problem.
I know, bad habbit I learned from my dad, but hey, neither of us have ever had a wheel fly off, so it can't be that bad (hopefully)!
I know, bad habbit I learned from my dad, but hey, neither of us have ever had a wheel fly off, so it can't be that bad (hopefully)!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 35
From: Godfrey IL
Torque wrenches are a good thing. They go out of calibration and at different temperatures, let's just say they are not always repetitive. In a controlled environment... fine. THEY WORK WELL.
I was on the race track in the days when impact wrenches were not in everyone's tool kits, and neither were the compressors. Changed thousands of wheels. You know when you hit it right. And you also check 'em again before you go out for the next heat. Some guys have the knack and can tell when they hit it. Some guys I know were dead on when they were checked.
I don't know how guys did it back then, but I have seen some tune a carbuerator and a distributor by feel. Not because we did not have the tools, but there was not time.
With that said... re-torque the wheel. Long before 50 miles has passed.
I was on the race track in the days when impact wrenches were not in everyone's tool kits, and neither were the compressors. Changed thousands of wheels. You know when you hit it right. And you also check 'em again before you go out for the next heat. Some guys have the knack and can tell when they hit it. Some guys I know were dead on when they were checked.
I don't know how guys did it back then, but I have seen some tune a carbuerator and a distributor by feel. Not because we did not have the tools, but there was not time.
With that said... re-torque the wheel. Long before 50 miles has passed.