How Much Torque Do You Need for Wheel Lug Nuts?
When tightening your wheel lug nuts, how much torque do you apply? If you don’t tighten lug nuts enough, they will become too loose, and your wheel might fall off. On the other hand, if you tighten them too hard, you might damage the wheel hub or studs, which is again very dangerous.
Even if you aren’t a “car person,” and even if the interaction between you and your car is reduced to you driving it, you still need to learn some basics. You never know when you will have to change a tire or rotate your wheels.
In these situations, you will need to know how much torque for tire lug nuts is appropriate, so make sure to read this article!
General Lug Nut Torque Specifications
To make things easier for you, here is a table that shows the optimal torque range for your vehicle type. Even if you know nothing about cars, you know which vehicle type you are driving. This table also tells you which bold/stud size is appropriate to use in your case, so take a closer look at it:
|
Vehicle Type |
How Much Torque For Tire Lug Nuts |
Hardware Bolt Or Stud Size |
|
Compact Cars (e.g., Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla) |
80–90 ft-lbs |
12mm x 1.25 or 12mm x 1.5 |
|
Mid-Size Cars (e.g., Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion) |
90–100 ft-lbs |
12mm x 1.5 or 14mm x 1.5 |
|
Full-Size Cars (e.g., Dodge Charger, Chevy Impala) |
100–110 ft-lbs |
14mm x 1.5 |
|
Small SUVs & Crossovers (e.g., Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson) |
95–105 ft-lbs |
12mm x 1.5 or 14mm x 1.5 |
|
Mid-Size SUVs (e.g., Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander) |
100–120 ft-lbs |
14mm x 1.5 or 1/2"-20 (SAE) |
|
Full-Size SUVs/Trucks (e.g., Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150) |
120–150 ft-lbs |
14mm x 1.5 or 9/16"-18 (SAE) |
|
Heavy-Duty Trucks (e.g., Ram 2500, Ford Super Duty) |
140–165 ft-lbs |
9/16"-18 or 5/8"-18 (SAE) |
How Many Lug Nuts Are On A Standard Car Wheel?
Now that you know how much torque you need for lug nuts, there are some other things you should know. For example, how many lug nuts are there on your wheels?
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If you are driving a standard passenger car, you probably have 4-5 lug nuts per wheel.
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However, if you are driving a truck or another heavy-duty vehicle, your wheels will probably have more lug nuts.
In general, more lug nuts mean more support and increased safety. For example, if your car wheels have four lug nuts, imagine what would happen if one lug nut fell out. That wheel would have only three lug nuts, which could compromise your road safety.
That’s why wheels with five lug nuts are the most common - even if one falls out, the remaining four will keep the wheel in place.
Important Tips For Getting The Right Torque Wrench
To tighten your lug nuts properly, you need to be able to identify and use the proper torque wrench. Pay attention to the following tips when choosing a torque wrench:
1. Determine the Appropriate Torque for Your Car Wheel
First, make sure that you have correctly determined the appropriate torque for your car’s wheels. You can take a second look at the table above.
This might seem like too much caution, but it is easy to make a mistake that might cost you a lot in the future.
2. Choose the Right Type of Torque Wrench
Then, it’s time to choose the right torque wrench type:
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Click-Type Torque Wrench: This type is the most popular for automotive use. It "clicks" when you reach the preset torque, which means you will know when to stop tightening the nut.
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Beam Torque Wrench: This wrench is simple and affordable. However, it is also less precise and harder to read during use, which can be challenging for inexperienced users.
-
Digital Torque Wrench: If you want a wrench that offers visual and audible signals with precise digital readouts, this one is perfect for you. Overall, it is great for high-accuracy jobs, but it’s also much more expensive than the other two options.
All these wrench types do the same thing, but some offer more advanced features than others. However, they are also more expensive, which is also an important thing to consider.
3. Check Its Calibration
After you have chosen and bought your torque wrench, it is time to check if it’s properly calibrated. Over time, torque wrenches become less accurate, which is why you need to recalibrate them. Do this at least once a year.
4. Keep It Clean and Properly Stored
Additionally, you should clean the wrench after each use. Clean it with a dry cloth and reset it to its lowest torque setting (but still higher than zero). Store the wrench in its case in a dry and dark environment.
5. Avoid Using it to Loosen Bolts
Finally, don’t make one common mistake that many people make with their torque wrenches. Don’t use it to loosen bolts. While it might seem intuitive to use the same tool to both tighten and loosen the bolts, a torque wrench should only be used for tightening. If you use it for loosening bolts, you can throw off its calibration or even damage its internal mechanism.
Top Recommended Lug Nuts and Torque Wrenches
After learning so much in this article, you probably wonder where to find good lug nuts and torque wrenches. Take a look at these:
Wheel Lug Nuts with 60 Degree Conical Tapered Acorn Seat for 3/4" Hex, 24pcs
This 24-pack of M14 x 1.5 lug nuts fits most 3/4" and 19mm hex wrenches. As such, it offers a wide compatibility across vehicle models. It is crafted from cold-forged Q235 steel with a corrosion-resistant black-oxide finish:
10 Piece 1/2 Inch Drive Torque Sticks Set - 65 to 150 ft-lb with Storage Case
This torque stick set covers the most common torque ranges from 65 to 150 ft-lbs. It is perfect for safely tightening lug nuts with a 1/2-inch impact wrench. Each stick is color-coded, laser-etched, and built from durable chromoly steel with a corrosion-resistant coating:
Conclusion
Tightening wheel lug nuts isn’t something you should take lightly. You need to know how much torque for tire lug nuts you should apply.
Otherwise, you can cause many issues and potential dangers. So, make sure to only apply a proper torque as per the table in this article, and don’t forget to buy the right lug nuts and torque wrench!
If you are thinking of swapping wheels on your Ford F150, you might want to consult our F150 lug pattern guide for more specific guidance and instructions.
