check those lug nuts!

[newbury]

I may have posted this before but:
About 20 years ago I was driving my Dodge B120 van down to Kings Dominion for a fun day at the waterpark. I had three boys with me, from about 9 to 13.
We were in the middle lane, moderately dense traffic, about 65 mph.
A boat trailer in front of me lost a right wheel, one of two.

The darn wheel and tire flew up in the air, probably 30 feet high and coming directly at me. I couldn't swerve to either side without hitting a car. I floored it and hoped for the best, trying to get it so it would hit the roof instead of the windshield. Didn't have time to get scared, just time to react.

It hit dead center above the window frame and left a dent about an inch deep, bounced off and was someone else's problem.

It was just like heading a soccer ball.

Didn't even have to change my pants.

Also - check the lug nuts to ensure you can get them off with equipment you carry if you get a flat. I've had some that required a breaker bar to get off.

 

[joshuabardwell]

On Monday I spent $600 on a 3/4 drive torque wrench

HOLY COW! :shocked: I used to think $100 was a top-of-the-line torque wrench. My goodness.

I always check the lug nuts 50 miles or so after rotating my tires. In general, maybe half of them are fine, half of them slip just a tad--maybe 5-15 lbs lighter than they should be--and occasionally, one or two of them are just plain loose. This may be why auto shops seem to always over-tighten the heck out of them. I have never in my life had a vehicle come back from any tire service with the lug nuts anywhere near the proper torque. I always have to stand on the lug wrench to break them loose and re-torque them to spec.