Well, today I learned that the 100+ pound torque on the wheel bolts makes for a hard removal process, even with a stout lug wrench. I have a nail in the tire and was going to put on the Modern Spare before going to the shop. All of the bolts but the last one came off with some considerable effort, but couldn't remove the last one no matter how hard I tried. I'm taking a pump for the 40 mile trip to the shop.

I'm not 30 anymore so am going to get a breaker bar, 17mm socket and extender to take along with the Modern Spare. Definitely a lesson learned and glad I was in my garage and not on the highway or some remote road.

 

Excellent idea. I fell in love with my breaker bar the first time I used it and every time there after. I can't imagine doing tire rotations or seasonal swaps without it, so much easier. Even though I use a torque wrench to tighten wheels, I still use my breaker bar afterwards just to feel the level of tightness as a double check.

 

Has the dealership ever serviced the car? Maybe they just overtightened it.

 

Further to tundotcom's remark; Those air guns they use in shops are very strong and often not kept in the best condition. Not sure if you can set a torque setting on them, but most garages will finish the tightening of wheel bolts / lugs with a proper torque wrench. Plus you're not to put any anti-seize on them either so they won't get over-torqued. But, the lack of anti-seize can lead to them being hard to remove. I would make a point to let whomever has 'touched' your wheels to let them know that you wish they hand torque your lug bolts in the future. Over-torquing can lead to warped rotors and ruined threads.

 

You don't have a piece of pipe you keep to put over your socket wrench handle for when extra torque is needed ? When I got my Modern Spare and immediately made sure I could change tires and that the jack raised it high enough which was an issue with early NX Modern Tire jack recipients. And yes, I also am no longer 30 , ha a little over 2 1/2 times that.

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

Not the NX …was in a Macan. Just went through the same. I just bought a 18”
..1/2” breaker bar and impact sockets. Also bought 12” pipe for an extension. I thought the nuts were on too tight from
the last service. That was not the problem.
I was stuck in a parking lot and could not get any nuts off. The OEM equipment is worthless. I bought the proper tools to avoid happening again.
My bigger issue I cannot lift the tire(s). I’m more than double 30😂
but less than 90

 

Not the dealership. I brought it to the attention of the manager at our local America's Tire. They are the only ones who have touched the tires.

 

Nicely made...good feel. It works. ...extendable

 

For what it's worth, we recently had to install the Modern Spare and I had no problem getting the bolts off with the included wrench after I extended it. At some time in the past, the dealer had cross rotated the tires so they're the only ones who have done anything besides the factory.