What is the wheel nut torque: settings and correct way of tightening wheel nuts
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The wheel nut torque settings are there for your safety and should not be ignored. If not enough torque is applied when tightening the nuts or bolts, the wheels could become loose, causing them to wobble or detach from the vehicle while driving.
Moreover, too much torque could damage the nuts or bolts or the wheel itself. Using the correct amount of force also helps to maintain the wheel alignment and ensures that the vehicle load is evenly distributed across the wheels and fasteners.
What are the torque settings for wheel nuts?
You’ll usually find the optimal wheel nut torque for your vehicle in the car owner’s manual. The settings will vary depending on the size of the rims and the design, as well as the number, size, and type of wheel nuts and bolts. For normal passenger cars, the recommended torque typically falls somewhere between 100 N m and 150 N m. Note that if you change the rims, the torque may increase or decrease.
Examples:
Alloy rim torque (N m)
Model
Steel rim torque (N m)
Ford Fiesta
135
135
Jaguar S-type
-
128
Audi Q5
140
140
Dacia Duster
110
-
Fiat Stilo
98
98
Tightening the nuts
Once you’ve determined the proper wheel nut torque settings, you can install and remove the wheels/tyres effectively. Below is a rough guideline on how to tighten the fasteners.
Installing the fasteners:
Make sure your car is parked in first gear on a flat, even surface and that the handbrake is engaged.
Get a suitable torque wrench for the wheel nuts and set it to the specified torque. Some can be set electronically, while others are set manually.
Tighten the nuts/bolts in a criss-cross pattern, turning the wrench clockwise until the torque value is reached.
Relieve the tension in the torque after each use to protect the spring.
How much torque is required to remove wheel nuts?
In most cases, less torque is required to loosen the bolts than to tighten them. In the simplest terms, the direction the fasteners are turned (clockwise or anti-clockwise) affects the amount of force required due to the design of the threads.
Removing a tyre:
Repeat step 1 from the instructions above
Chock the wheels. If you have two chocks, place them on both front or rear wheels, or place one chock on the wheel diagonal to the one being removed. This will help to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Loosen the wheel nuts while the car is still on the ground. Turn them anti-clockwise until they can be loosened by hand. DO NOT remove them yet.
Jack up the vehicle. Place a car jack under the designated jacking point of your vehicle model (see manual) and raise the vehicle so that the wheel is roughly 10-15cm off the ground. If you don’t have a jack already, they’re very handy for DIY repairs. Compare car jack prices here.
Remove the nuts and the tyre. Make sure to prop up the wheel as you remove it.
