Yesterday we were driving in heavy early-morning traffic, on a fairly major artery, two lanes N and two S, with an intermittent concrete median. We were in the curb lane, with a black Nissan SUV in front of us. Suddenly we saw a wheel out on the road to the left of the Nissan. The Nissan slowed gradually and came to a stop, sitting on three wheels and the front left rotor. The driver's-side fender was displaced. The wheel continued on, rolling west across three lanes and ending up on the far side. We stopped and waved cars down while the driver recovered his wheel. Couldn't help him reinstall the wheel as three of the five studs were sheared off. He said he'd just had the winter tires installed by a nearby indy shop.
No one was injured, and the runaway wheel did not strike any other vehicles.
I wish I'd had a dash cam. I also should have given the driver contact information, although I imagine he'll have no trouble with getting the shop to repair his car and provide him a loaner.
Anyway, this is just a reminder to check your lug nuts after a seasonal tire changeover. I try to always check all the lug nuts (using a torque wrench) even after I've done each wheel individually, and then check them again a week or so later.
I've found that alloy wheels are way more prone to loosening up than steel wheels, so would expect to see this more often in Spring than Fall.
No one was injured, and the runaway wheel did not strike any other vehicles.
I wish I'd had a dash cam. I also should have given the driver contact information, although I imagine he'll have no trouble with getting the shop to repair his car and provide him a loaner.
Anyway, this is just a reminder to check your lug nuts after a seasonal tire changeover. I try to always check all the lug nuts (using a torque wrench) even after I've done each wheel individually, and then check them again a week or so later.
I've found that alloy wheels are way more prone to loosening up than steel wheels, so would expect to see this more often in Spring than Fall.