Tighten wheel nuts after tire change: Not mandatory!

Created: 2022-07-18Updated: 2022-07-18, 4:15 p.m

By: Simon Mones

The wheel nuts should be checked 50 to 100 kilometers after the tire change.

But is that really mandatory?

If the tires are worn or the change between summer and winter tires is pending, drivers have two options: change the car tires themselves or go to a trusted workshop.

If you choose the latter option, you will usually find a note - either on the invoice or on a sticker in the car - that the tires have to be tightened.

But how binding is that?

This is essential for driving safety, stresses the tire manufacturer Continental on its website.

In principle, the ADAC also recommends checking the wheel nuts after 50 to 100 kilometers.

From a technical point of view, however, the note is not necessary, as tire expert Ruprecht Müller explains: "If the wheel attachments are in order and the correct torque was used when tightening the screws, the wheel must hold."

Tighten wheel nuts after tire change: Not mandatory!

It is also not legally obligatory to retighten the wheel nuts after changing tires - a note on the invoice or in the car does not change that.

"If a wheel comes loose after visiting the workshop, the first indication is that the wheel change was not carried out properly," writes the ADAC.

So the workshop is to blame and not the customer.

Complicity is only possible if the driver does not have the screws tightened even though he has noticed irregularities in driving behavior.

The wheel nuts should be tightened 50 to 100 kilometers after the tire change.

But is that really mandatory?

(Iconic image) © Marijan Murat/dpa

The Higher Regional Court of Munich had judged accordingly and thus agreed with a motorist.

After 100 kilometers on the Autobahn, he lost his left rear wheel and demanded compensation from the workshop.

This refused and explained that the customer had been clearly informed in writing and orally that he had to check the wheel nuts after 50 kilometers.

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Tighten wheel nuts after changing tires: The workshop must not hold the customer responsible

The district court of Munich II followed the reasoning, but found that the fault lies largely (70 percent) with the workshop.

The driver appealed and was right before the Higher Regional Court.

The judges explained that the workshop should not transfer control of its own work to the customer through such a notice.

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If you want to be on the safe side, for example to rule out a mistake in the workshop, you should still check the wheel nut 50 to 100 kilometers after changing the tire.