A guy I know had his tire changed a week ago after some bearing work was done on his vehicle. The other day he was driving on the interstate in a construction zone, and the tire flew off crossed the median and hit a car. He's warning everybody now to recheck their wheels after having service work done.

You'd think you'd notice a loose wheel but I know two people that had front tires come off. One flew so far into the woods they never found it.

Anytime you have a wheel off and put back on heck them a couple blocks is enough to show up.

Lug nuts need to be re-torqued after 100km when the wheels come off for any reason.

Wow that's crazy. Is everyone ok?

I'm not 100% sure of the status, but I know it hit an oncoming car in the windshield. I think the lady survived, but got cut.

I've never done that. My beaver rigs have totaled over a million miles (four of them over 27 years - 87 yota truck, 94 yota truck, 95 Tacoma, and 2000 Tacoma) and I never did that, and never had a lug nut come off. Is this only for certain vehicles? My beaver rigs have all been yotas.

Always find a few loose lug nuts after wheels have been off.It is standard practice here.

And I never have. What vehicles do you have this happen on?

Ford Ranger,2 Ford half tons,ford 1 ton work truck,honda crv.
My daughter had a wheel come loose because she forgot to have the wheel nuts re torqued after a brake job on the ranger.
All the garages print it out now in bold letters on the invoice if you have any wheels taken off.

Good idea to re-check, but I've never heard of this lugnut issue happening with any sort of regularity like you mention. Over the years that I can think of at least three people I've heard of lose wheels though.

I have never found all of them loose,but usually two or three.
Next time you have the wheels off,check the lugnuts after 100km and see if a couple are not fully torqued anymore.

It is a bigger issue with aluminum rims. Aluminum and steel dont like each other, they can loosen up right after a tire change and then 6 months later be seized up so bad you need a torch to get the lugnuts off. Apply a little anti seize, torque to spec then re-check after a few miles. Most any reputable shop/mechanic around here will either suggest this or it will be printed on your bill after any work has been done where a tire was removed.

This is not an American problem. Notice he said 100km. I've never put a single km on my vehicle. I only drive miles.

I guarantee you'd feel a loose wheel. Lots of vibration and noise. More likely the goon that put the wheels back on just hammered the lugnuts on with an impact and stretched and cracked the studs. Then everything feels fine until you hit a big bump (like in a construction area, per the OP) and the studs break and the wheel falls off.

You picked a fine time to leave me, Loose Wheel!

Yep.

Most of the vehicles I've owned recommend torquing to 100 ft./lbs.

There's a reason for that...

Too loose and the nuts work loose. Too tight and you stretch the steel beyond its capacity and it fails.

A torque wrench is pretty cheap insurance.

Mike

Most likely to happen with aluminum wheels

The new bearing was probably the reason.
I've had new wheel bearings that the wheel studs were not seated propery and if not caught, will allow the wheel to loosen up.

I had a 93 Dakota when I was 18 I lost 2 lug nuts and 2 studs off 1, 6 stud tire. Couldnt believe I didn't loose the tire. I had just gotten home from a 150 mile ice fishing trip. Asked my dad to help me figure out what was wrong with the truck. I had stopped early in the trip cuz I could feel the wobble from what must have been 1 of the broken studs or lost nuts. They were covered by a wheel cap, and I never thought to check them on the side of the road.
Because of that I check lugs after about 50miles and before any big trips out of town.