What should wheel nuts be torqued to

Tyre Finder. You are here: Homepage All about tyres Tyre care and maintenance Retorquing wheels. Fast facts: Why wheel nuts need retorquing.

Over time, wheel nuts undergo the typical stresses and forces of a car in daily use. These stresses can sometimes result in tightening or loosening of the wheel nuts. Storing tyres. Should you stand, stack, or hang? Read More. Tread depth tyres. Why you should check tread depth regularly. Balancing tyres. Eliminate vibration and avoid premature wear.

Continental in numbers. First choice for leading vehicle manufacturers Almost every third car in Europe is delivered with tyres from Continental. The most common sequence is to move in a 'star' pattern on a 5-lug setup—start with a top-corner lug, and then move diagonally across until each lug has been tightened.

On 4-lug wheels, move diagonally for the first bolt, then across, then diagonally again. For 6-lug wheels, you'll want to start horizontally with the bolt that's directly across, then move diagonally, then horizontally again, horizontally a second time, then a final diagonal. Using these patterns properly seats the rim against the hub while you apply torque and allows for the most accurate application of tightening force.

You might be surprised to learn that torquing new wheels once isn't enough. Most manufacturers recommend that lugs be re-torqued after 50 to miles of regular driving. This is due to any settling that might have occurred between the rim and the hub, as well as any initial vibration that might have loosened any lug nuts. For a track vehicle, where stresses are significant each session, it's not overkill to check lug nut torque after every session.

The same can be said for vehicle that are used for towing, as the excess pressures exerted by the load that is being hauled can amplify any looseness or other lug nut and wheel issues. It's worth checking torque again once you've reached your destination.

It takes only a few minutes per wheel to ensure proper torque—minutes that can add up to serious dollars saved by avoiding an incident that could see you losing complete control of your vehicle. Curious to know more about wheels and tires? This guide to fitting the right set to your vehicle will point you in the right direction. Sign up for more restomod content to add horsepower to your inbox.

Properly Torquing Your Lug Nuts—It's Not Just for the Race Track November 13, Story By Benjamin Hunting Having a wheel come off your vehicle while driving at speed is one of the most terrifying things that can happen to you as a driver, whether you're barreling down the back straight of your local race track or navigating three lanes of rush hour traffic on the way home later that evening. How Do Lug Nuts Work? This is stipulated for each car or rim and tells you how much force should be used when tightening the wheel bolts.

This value must be maintained so that the bolts can withstand the stresses they are subjected to when driving and hold the wheel securely in place. If the screws are not tight enough, they can come loose whilst driving. If the wheel bolts are too tight, the threads might get stripped or damaged. And this is where the torque wrench comes in. Using a torque wrench enables you to tighten up the wheel bolts to a specified torque.

All you have to do is set the value on the tool and then release the lever — as soon as the tightening torque is reached, you will hear and feel a clear click in the wrench. But where can you find the stipulated value for your own car? The optimum torque value for your car or mounted rims can be found in the vehicle manual. It depends on the car model, rim size, design aluminium or steel rims and number of bolts.

If you change the rims on your car, you will find the new torque values in the rim certificate. The rim certificate is issued by the manufacturer. It confirms that the rims have been tested and approved by the relevant authority. If you do not have the car manual to hand right now, it is worth taking a look at our torque chart.

If you are retrofitting: Remember to have your new rim size entered in the vehicle registration document. This means that you will have to take the wheel rim certificate with you to your next vehicle safety inspection.

Check the seating of your wheel nuts and adjust if necessary, whether after a tyre change or before a long journey. We will explain how to tighten your wheel nuts:. Step 1: Put your car into first gear and then apply the handbrake. Have the torque wrench ready. Step 3: Tighten the wheel bolts one after the other in a criss-cross pattern.