TIRE SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
(The 11 Tools of Cost Control)

2. Wheel Torquing and Re-torquing

When components of a wheel system are clamped together it becomes a very rigid joint, however, the extreme pressure of normal operation and fluctuation of temperatures cause movement and flexing within that joint. Fretting of the steel parts against one another forces any paint or rust out of the joint thus reducing the thickness of the joint between the head of the stud and the wheel nut. This is known as joint settling, the wheel nut has not turned but the clamp load drops due to the change in thickness of the layers in the joint. Loss of clamping force therefore allows for greater movement within the joint leading to even more material being forced from the joint. Eventually the wheel is loose enough that the nuts will begin to back off.

Kal Tire hand torques all wheel assemblies to ensure accuracy and avoid over-torquing or under-torquing conditions.

Wheel manufacturers recommend re-torquing of wheel nuts 100-150 Kilometers after installation. Kal Tire complies with this and, in fact, we state on our invoices that "all wheels must be re-torqued within 100-150 km.

It is Kal Tire's written policy that "all wheels be torqued to manufacturer's specifications at all times". To ensure that your wheels are torqued to manufacturer's specs Kal Tire uses torque wrenches equipped with dials to show the applied torque. This service is done regardless of whether the work is performed on the road or at our stores.

It is recommended that wheel re-torquing be a part of a monthly yard check.

Next >