aftermarket wheels with lug-centric design

Do your lugs a favor and always brush any loose stuff off the hubs and insides of the wheel before mounting them and apply proper torque to the lug nuts. Lube the threads or washers as appropriate.

I have to comment on the last sentence. While it's O.K. to wipe the washers with a little oil one should never, ever put anything on the actual threads especially any sort of lubricant. I even question some that put things like never seize on the threads and you can also wipe some oil on the wheel and hub pilot interface surfaces to prevent seizing.

Larry

For decades I've been applying a light coating of wheel bearing grease on hub mounting surfaces and lug nuts/bolts. I assumed it was not the correct thing to do but with winter road salt welding everything together, it makes wheel removal much easier.