I have found the lug screws holding the tire rim on to the wheel are very tight. During my first service yesterday, I asked the service advisor to have their torque checked and if too tight, to properly make the change. He told me each wheel was tightened to 80 pounds of torque.

Today, I wanted to clean my wheels inside and out and then apply some wheel wax. I went to loosen the screws and found they were still too tight to remove without fear of the wrench slipping and dinging my wheel.

Any thoughts on this subject? The lug wrench that came with the car seems really loose and easily slips off the screw when applying force. Are their any wrenches out there that would do better? Also, what size are the screws.

 

Just use some kind of breaking bar, or put a piece of pipe around the lug wrench when you're trying to unscrew them. It will give you a lot more leverage and it will be easier to take them off.

 

The lug wrenches sold with just about every car ever built are utter crap. They are only meant to be used for roadside emergencies, and many are not even adequate enough for that. I carry a long socket handle and appropriate six-point deep socket in all my vehicles. For the MINI, Use a 17mm, six-point deep socket and the longest socket handle you have. A short piece of pipe over the handle will give you better leverage in removing the bolts. If you have access to one, use a torque wrench to put the lug bolts back on.

 

If the Service Advisor is correct and your wheels are really tightened to 80 lbf-ft, then they're actually too loose. The wheel torque spec for the Countryman is 103 lbf-ft.

 

trwxxa is correct, 17 mm socket or WallyMart has a folding chrome lug wrench that comes in a plastic carry case that has 4 sizes, one of which is 17mm. I have one and it works for me. The cross bars give you some torque as well.

 

I had a run flat issue repaired and the tire shop torqued that specific wheel to 107 pounds. As mentioned, the Mini dealer tightened to 80. At 80, with the stock wrench, it was no joy. I am very **** about scratching my $1200 wheels. I'll go and search out a 17mm 6-point deep socket with appropriate torque wrench.

 

I've never used the stock MINI wrench to remove wheels, but it's probably just giving you trouble because the handle isn't the optimal shape and as you noted, doesn't fit well over the head of the lug bolt. I just wanted to point out the correct torque value for when you being doing it yourself.

 

The OP has a Countryman, so the 103 lb-ft quoted above is correct. Remember that for Mid 2006 and earlier build R53 and R50s, the correct torque value is 86 lb-ft... they had a smaller bolt size. Your MA/SA should know better!

I strongly recommend getting going to an inexpensive tool shop and investing in a breaker bar (or a large handle ratchet) with a 1/2" drive and a socket to fit your lug bolts. I'd also pick up a 1/2" drive torque wrench and use it to properly torque your lug bolts after every time anyone other than yourself touches 'em. They say that they torque them correctly, but I've never seen them do it or do it correctly, so I always loosen them and retorque myself.

PS: You may be tempted to get only the torque wrench and to use the torque wrench to loosen the bolts... A click-type torque wrench should NEVER be used to remove bolts... only tighten them. It will damage the wrench if you use it to remove the bolts and it will not measure torque values correctly after that.

 

Good grief! Ya never can trust anybody now days. Thanks everyone for the heads-up. Will head out immediately and by the proper toys and re-torque to 103.

Happy holidays,
JR

 

Remember to buy a long breaker bar as well as everyone has suggested. I have one from harbor freight that works for me. And do not use a torque wrench to break lose a lug nut.

 

Appreciate this. I looked up and found a Harbor Freight about 10 miles from my house. Going there today.