Making sure that your lug nuts are good and tight on your wheels is a high priority. The installation process should not be rushed or else you run the risk for damaging the surface of your shiny new set of rims. Below are some tricks of the trade that guide you towards the most accurate torquing. Don’t make the mistake of tightening the wheel lug nuts when the vehicle is on the ground. Some people finger-tighten when their car is raised, then lower the car to continue with a torquing tool. This runs you against the weight of the vehicle and puts too much stress on the fastening system. If the wheel and hub are not completely compact, then the tire has to face resistance of the sidewall deflection, leading to potential inaccurate torquing. Another tip before starting to tighten the lug nuts is to make sure the socket of the torque wrench is clean so that the finish to the lug nut is not ruined by dirt or grease. Also check that the socket fits into the wheel’s lug nut hole. If the socket you use is too thick, then it might get stuck and be difficult to remove, causing the wheel finish to chip or flake off. It’s a good idea to use thinwall sockets on custom wheels. Impact guns that are electric and difficult to control should never be used when dealing with alloy wheels. The lug nuts exterior and the wheel’s hole for the lug nut are both vulnerable to damage.