The torque spec for lug nuts varies depending on the vehicle and wheel type. Manufacturers provide recommended torque values, which should always be adhered to during installation. It is highly recommended that you tighten them with a calibrated torque wrench, and the final tightening should always be done with a torque wrench. Below are some general torque specifications:
- Steel wheel lug nut torque: usually around 80 ft/lb
- Aluminum wheel lug nut torque: usually around 100 ft/lb
- Torque the lug nuts in two steps, starting at 40 ft/lbs of torque for your first step to get the wheel seated properly. Then for the final torque, refer to a torque spec chart for recommendations based on your lug nut thread size.
It is important to note that under- or over-tightening wheel-attaching hardware can be damaging and dangerous. Improperly torqued lug nuts can result in warped brake rotors, damage to lug nut seating surface, wheel hub damage, and more.
