Thread: Wheel Lug Nut Torque

I searched the Forums prior to posting this and could not find the numbers.

I don't have my owner's manual with me so..

Can anyone tell me what the proper Wheel Lug Nut torque is for the Soul?

I will be getting a winter wheel package from Discount Tire (No one can beat their price..not even locally) and just want to make sure that I mount them correctly.

Thanks in advance.

I dont know the actual figure. What i do know is that the people at the tyre places usually put them on way too tight (i have broken 2 wheelbraces in the past!). I usually tighten them up adjacently hand tight then use my foot and most of my bodyweight to tighten them the rest of the way, just using the standard wheelbrace as the lever. That way i know i can get them off. Its not very scientific and will probably be getting the shock horror treatment from the all knowing fraternity. But they arent there to help in the middle of the night on an unlit country lane come puncture time.....and i have never had a wheel come loose and dont subscribe to carrying an extension bar round with me.

Yes, most tire/tyre places tighten the wheels too tight as they don't care about the correct torque.
I always check the torque on my lugs after the shops have dealt with my tires. Most shops will tighten the first nut very tightly (all the way) and this will affect the way your whole wheel will sit on your Soul..not perpendicular to the road and will cause problems.

I would rather be be safe than sorry by checking the torque on my nuts.. (wheel nuts tempest)

Tightening torque:
90 ~ 110N.m (9.0 ~ 11.0kgf.m, 65 ~ 80lb-ft)
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Cited source: kiatechinfo.com

Thanks Greg.

Greg is right.
Although the size of the stud/bolt and the type of material being torqued (wheel material) determines the actual torque.

Soul's studs are 12 x 1.5 mm with aluminum aloy wheels... Therefore the torque is typically 70 - 80 ft/lbs (95 - 109 Nm).

Personally I tend to stick to the high side 80 ft/lbs, because I don't regularly check their tightness.

TIPS:
1) When installing new wheels you should check and re-torque the wheel lugs after driving the first 50 miles or so. This is to check for for the possibility that metal compression/elongation or other thermal stresses may have affected the wheels as they were breaking in.

2) If rechecking torque value, wait for the wheels to cool to ambient temperature.

3) Never torque a hot wheel.

4) Although tempting... Never put anti-seize on the studs. Purchase a power bar or a piece of pipe to extend the length of the wrench handle.

Thanks SoberOne.

Great tips too!

Originally Posted by SoberOne

Greg is right.
Although the size of the stud/bolt and the type of material being torqued (wheel material) determines the actual torque.

Soul's studs are 12 x 1.5 mm with aluminum aloy wheels... Therefore the torque is typically 70 - 80 ft/lbs (95 - 109 Nm).

Personally I tend to stick to the high side 80 ft/lbs, because I don't regularly check their tightness.

TIPS:
1) When installing new wheels you should check and re-torque the wheel lugs after driving the first 50 miles or so. This is to check for for the possibility that metal compression/elongation or other thermal stresses may have affected the wheels as they were breaking in.

2) If rechecking torque value, wait for the wheels to cool to ambient temperature.

3) Never torque a hot wheel.

4) Although tempting... Never put anti-seize on the studs. Purchase a power bar or a piece of pipe to extend the length of the wrench handle.

Why wouldn't you put anti-seize on the studs? I'm asking this because I plan on buying McGard Black splined Lug Nuts / wheel locks. Thanks

My husband put Marc's snows on. We did find the Torque in the owners manual and he used a torque wrench.

Originally Posted by fhartell

Why wouldn't you put anti-seize on the studs? I'm asking this because I plan on buying McGard Black splined Lug Nuts / wheel locks. Thanks

It is possible that due to the constant vibration that the lug nuts could work their way off.
You can put anti-seize on the wheel and hub mating faces so that they don't rust together or bond; but not on the threads of the studs or nuts.

Have you ever seen what happens when a wheel comes off?
Do a google image search for "wheel came off while driving"