You make a good point here, Larry, that folks should be more aware of. The
big retailer chains soothe us with expensive ads about "service", but the
reality is that the kids working at the tire and battery areas end up there
because they are the bottom feeders on the food chain of employees..or at
least it was so when I worked at that store, back in my teen years (no, I
didn't work in the tire dept.). Not that there aren't dedicated, competent,
conscientious tire techs. Somewhere.

You lucked out, actually. I have had the experience of having a wheel come
off on the road. Why? Bolts were spun on, but not tightened. I'd have been
DELIGHTED if they were only mistorqued.

People should pay attention to this stuff, this is WHEELS were talking here,
not cup holders.

David Griffin

<Patrick Foltz wrote:
>
> In a message dated 11/2/00 2:25:42 PM, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> << Or should I instruct the guys at the tire shop to tighten the lugs to a
> specific torque?
> YES!!!
> This is one of my giant peeves!!!!

Patrick,
I had almost the exact same thing happen, at a Se*rs store. I complained
to the manager, who had the tire monkey come out to my car with a torque
wrench. As the manager and I were standing near the car conversing, I
looked over his shoulder to see the guy TIGHTENING the lugs even more. I
ordered him away from my car, and simply drove away. Went home,
retorqued the wheels to the proper torque, let about 15 pounds of air
out of each tire, and called it a day.
My advice to anyone having tire work done: before leaving the store,
check to see if you can loosen one lug on each wheel, and check the tire
pressures-they're almost always too high.
Larry>