On my way back from New Orleans I had a flat tire on the T.T. I was not able to take the lugs off ,so I call for service. They sent someone, he took the flat tire off and replaced it with the spare. He used a battery drill with an 1/2 inch socket on it. Well we kept going back to Chicago when I arrived I decided to put the original tire back after fixing it of course. To my surprise the lug nuts where loose, here I was thinking that this drill torqued the lugs to specs and that everything was ok. This tire could of came off at any time. What kind of service people are this?:M

The lug nuts need to be re-torqued after the wheel is changed out. I bet that there is a warning sticker somewhere around your wheel wells that tells you to retighten the lug nuts a couple of times.A good torque wrench is very important to make sure your lug nuts are properly installed.

Usually supposed to re-torque after 50 miles on any wheel, RV or automotive.

kennyd63 wrote:On my way back from New Orleans I had a flat tire on the T.T. I was not able to take the lugs off ,so I call for service. They sent someone, he took the flat tire off and replaced it with the spare. He used a battery drill with an 1/2 inch socket on it. ... To my surprise the lug nuts where loose, here I was thinking that this drill torqued the lugs to specs and that everything was ok. This tire could of came off at any time. What kind of service people are this?:MWho is this "they" who sent someone?A drill with a socket will troque the nut to some unknown torque which, in your case, was clearly insufficient. In other words this is a lesson learned - battery operated drill should not be used anywhere hnear a wheel. Even an electric drill. Maybe one of those compressed air drivers with torque sticks in a pinch, but I don't like them. I prefer a torque wrench or tighten by hand.

A battery powered drill cannot torque a lug nut to proper spec. Should have been torqued after installation.

kennyd63 wrote:On my way back from New Orleans I had a flat tire on the T.T. I was not able to take the lugs off ,so I call for service. They sent someone, he took the flat tire off and replaced it with the spare. He used a battery drill with an 1/2 inch socket on it. Well we kept going back to Chicago when I arrived I decided to put the original tire back after fixing it of course. To my surprise the lug nuts where loose, here I was thinking that this drill torqued the lugs to specs and that everything was ok. This tire could of came off at any time. What kind of service people are this?:MThere are a couple of important lessons IMO to be learned here for those unfamiliar with properly installing wheels ...1. Ultimately it is the owner who is responsible for ensuring that their wheels on their vehicles are properly tightened. It shouldn't be that way, but unfortunately my experiences over the last 50 years has proven that is in fact the case.2. Hand torquing with a good torque wrench for the final tightening is almost a must since even a lot of torque sticks in general use out there aren't that accurate. This is CRITIAL for the newer wheels that use the flat two piece "flat washer" fastening system especailly on wheels that under the higher loads. This difference between 145 and 155/160 can be critical as FORD found out when they changed fastening systems on their 99+ SD trucks. About the only sure way to make sure this happens along with 1 above is to carry your own torque wrench with you at all times.3. Its important to following the standard recommendation of rechecking the torque after a few miles like 50 to 250 especially with wheels that use the tapered seat fasting system. Almost all TT use that fastening system still. IMO this could be a reason why you find sloppy procedures in tire service since it only takes a couple of hundred miles for a potential issue to arise and once you are over that period there is no way to blame anyone if a failure/issue occurs except yourself so the original installation only has to last that long. I was very impressed that both of my two most recent purchases from Costco came with an offer for me to return to them and actually have them check and retorque my wheels after only a few miles. No other tire installer or dealer had ever made that level of service available before.Larry

Flat tire!! | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

FastEagle
Explorer
Oct 08, 2014
kennyd63 wrote:
FastEagle wrote:
You should not reuse the tire that went flat. I wouldn't even trust it as a spare.

FastEagle
Fast Eagle, so what are you suggesting is to buy a new tire?
Please advise.
Thank you, Kennedy

The damage done to a tire that "went flat" will be found on the inside of the tire. Before making it a spare it should be removed from the rim and inspected by someone with experience in damaged tire inspections.

If the tire was found flat while in highway use it should be scrapped. Even though not visible inside or outside, the tire most likely has internal damages that will drastically shorten its usability.

FastEagle
kennyd63
Explorer
Oct 08, 2014
FastEagle wrote:
You should not reuse the tire that went flat. I wouldn't even trust it as a spare.

FastEagle
Fast Eagle, so what are you suggesting is to buy a new tire?
Please advise.
Thank you, Kennedy
kennyd63
Explorer
Oct 08, 2014
wmoses wrote:
wmoses it was the road assistant company...
kennyd63 wrote:
On my way back from New Orleans I had a flat tire on the T.T. I was not able to take the lugs off ,so I call for service. They sent someone, he took the flat tire off and replaced it with the spare. He used a battery drill with an 1/2 inch socket on it. ... To my surprise the lug nuts where loose, here I was thinking that this drill torqued the lugs to specs and that everything was ok. This tire could of came off at any time. What kind of service people are this?:M

Who is this "they" who sent someone?

A drill with a socket will troque the nut to some unknown torque which, in your case, was clearly insufficient. In other words this is a lesson learned - battery operated drill should not be used anywhere hnear a wheel. Even an electric drill. Maybe one of those compressed air drivers with torque sticks in a pinch, but I don't like them. I prefer a torque wrench or tighten by hand.
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Oct 08, 2014
Use proper torque wrench technique, meaning the nut has to turn to be properly torqued so watch a video and buy a good wrench. Someones life may depend on it.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2014
There is a reason for the sticker above the tires. the one that says. Tighten Lugs after 50 miles of towing.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Oct 07, 2014
E&J push'n wind wrote:
I'm a believer in re-checking the torque on your lug nuts on both TV and TT. We went on a trip up to WA from So Cal, I had just recently put new tires and wheels on our TT. I remember reading right here on the forum that lug nuts should be checked regularly so I thought lets see whats it's all about. Man am I glad I did. I took a torque wrench with us and at the first fill up I checked the lugs on the TT and it could have been a disaster if I hadn't. After that I thought, lets take a look at the lugs on the TV. Yep, they needed re-torquing as well. After that I checked every fill up and sure enough while they weren't as loose as the first fill up. I was able to tighten them up a bit pretty much every time. They didn't start to "keep" until the trip home where as I checked them they were "less loose." I keep a torque wrench on the TT now. I will continue to check at each fill up. It only takes a few minutes. Very cheap insurance and it'll prevent ruining a trip. One mans thoughts FWIW.

I do the same thing and it only takes a minute to check the lugs. I carry an inexpensive Stanley 1/2" drive torque wrench in the TT just for this purpose. I have aluminum rims and while they have never really loosened up, I have been able to move the lugs very slightly from time to time.
rbpru
Explorer II
Oct 07, 2014
When I had to change a flat on my F-150, the owners guide said to torque to 125 ft./ lbs. :E

I did and the lugs did not loosen but boy, 125 ft./lbs. is hard on an old geezer like me. :W
E_J_push_n_wind
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
I'm a believer in re-checking the torque on your lug nuts on both TV and TT. We went on a trip up to WA from So Cal, I had just recently put new tires and wheels on our TT. I remember reading right here on the forum that lug nuts should be checked regularly so I thought lets see whats it's all about. Man am I glad I did. I took a torque wrench with us and at the first fill up I checked the lugs on the TT and it could have been a disaster if I hadn't. After that I thought, lets take a look at the lugs on the TV. Yep, they needed re-torquing as well. After that I checked every fill up and sure enough while they weren't as loose as the first fill up. I was able to tighten them up a bit pretty much every time. They didn't start to "keep" until the trip home where as I checked them they were "less loose." I keep a torque wrench on the TT now. I will continue to check at each fill up. It only takes a few minutes. Very cheap insurance and it'll prevent ruining a trip. One mans thoughts FWIW.
fatboy66
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
kennyd63 wrote:
On my way back from New Orleans I had a flat tire on the T.T. I was not able to take the lugs off ,so I call for service. They sent someone, he took the flat tire off and replaced it with the spare. He used a battery drill with an 1/2 inch socket on it. Well we kept going back to Chicago when I arrived I decided to put the original tire back after fixing it of course. To my surprise the lug nuts where loose, here I was thinking that this drill torqued the lugs to specs and that everything was ok. This tire could of came off at any time. What kind of service people are this?:M

Battery drill/torque wrench?? No way. Sorry, but this one is on you for not double checking.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Oct 07, 2014
JnJnKatiebug wrote:
I am sure it was a battery powered impact wrench and not a drill. I have two and they are very powerful. When the battery is fully charged they will twist off a lug. Still, a torque wrench should have been used for the final tightening.

X2, my Milwaukee 18v impact driver will do about 425 ft lbs and easily break a stud off. I use it to remove and lightly spin the lugs on and then set to spec with a torque wrench. With these powered drivers, air included, you arrive at an unknown torque setting and they can easily be overtightened, which is not good either. Carry a 1/2" torque wrench so you can check them yourself.

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Flat tire!!

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