Posted on 4/27/2025
When it comes to wheel safety, lug nuts don’t always get the attention they deserve. These critical fasteners are what keep your wheels securely attached to your car, and they need to be tightened to a very specific level of force—known as torque. Get it wrong, and you're risking more than just a loose wheel. Whether you're rotating your own tires, having them swapped at a shop, or just getting new wheels installed, understanding why proper torque matters can help prevent costly and even dangerous mistakes. What Is Torque and Why Does It Matter Torque is the force used to tighten something—in this case, the lug nuts on your wheels. Every vehicle has a manufacturer-specified torque setting, usually measured in foot pounds, that ensures the nuts are tight enough to hold the wheel but not so tight that they damage the threads or warp the brake components. Under-torqued lug nuts can loosen over time, which might cause the wheel to wobble, shak ... read more