2 tires have fallen off my jeep within the past 6 months!?

This has happened to me twice in the past 6 months! I have had 2 tires fall off because the lugnuts! I’m not sure why this keeps happening or if it’s a common thing?? I have 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The first time, I heard a weird knocking sound and had my buddy check it out. He had me drive around and we were going no more than like 2mph when it fell off. Thank god! The 2nd time, I was on my way to Florida with my son and my brother! We were in WV and I heard the same noise, we pulled over and one of my tires was missing 3 lugnuts!! I had just gotten new tires right after thanksgiving!! Could the people who put my tires on cause this?? Any suggestions or info from anyone would help and be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

 

Yea that's not supposed to happen. I'm not really sure what to tell you. I'm sure some if the fellas here will chime in and give you some advice in a minute.

@Awrench you got any ideas as to what's going on??

 

Welcome! Your issue could have been caused by improperly tightened and/or incorrectly torqued lug nuts. You have been relatively fortunate thus far so switch to a more reputable tire shop.
On a side note: check your lug nuts following any tire service but only if you know what your doing as you don't need to make it worse.

Any damaged lug nuts or studs should be replaced.

 

By the way......any chance someone does not like you? Two separate cases of loosened or missing lug nuts sounds deliberately arranged or a bit coincidental?

 

I literally just thought the exact same thing

 

You know what they say.....evil minds think alike or was it great minds?

 

You guys scare me. Hope I haven't ever offended either of you. Ahh crap.....I think I have. Think I need to start checkin my lugs. Sh-t. Already checkin my brake lines. .

Just as a rule of thumb. Far as I'm concerned. No such thing as over torqueing lug nuts.

 

Over torqued lug nuts may actually do the trick, brilliant!

 

are these OEM wheels?

Form follows function. Had to get that in.

 

First thing I thought!


But yes, it's always good to check your lug nuts occasionally. Sure the minimum wage tech at the tire shop could have forgot to torque them down to spec.

 

I have a friend with a 2005 Jeep LJ. We ordered new Steel black painted wheels, and he bought new lugnuts from Discount Tire (DT) when he had the new tires put on the new wheels. These lug nuts are new for DT they look the same as the old Gorilla lugs they used to sell, but they are a new brand and look cheap. He is having the same problem. We have torqued them multiple times going up each time now at 115lbs and still having an issue. I believe it is the lugs and we have ordered new lugs. Have you made any changes that caused this to happen like new wheels and tires?

 

This sounds very concerning as lots of jeepers upgrade to different wheels. Sometimes a "matched" set of lug nuts come with the wheels and sometimes new lug nuts are purchased separately. On the McGard website for example they offer different lug nuts depending upon cone or shank or bolt style. McGard offers a 60 degree tapered cone seat for steel or aluminum wheels. Did you see anything unusual with the fit or marks on the steel wheels or lug nuts that loosened? Did the steel wheels require a tapered cone different from the typical 60 degree? Just curious.

 

stock is best -- did I ever say that? enough>?

 

Time and time again. OEM whenever possible with a few exceptions.

 

I think your Jeep requires hub centric wheels. Is that correct? If so did you or someone else happen to install lug centric wheels? Also, remove a lug nut and post pictures showing a lug seat on the wheel and another showing the matching surface of the lug nut.

 

@steelhd ...Good point on the possibility of using aftermarket lug centric wheels. Perhaps Nikki's wheels x2 that rolled off the first time have damage such as enlarged ovalized lug holes and/or is no longer hub centric.

 

Drive by question posters. Did the OP take any of the advice offered? What was the fix? Something from the other six crossposted forums? Still a problem? Maybe the OP died from the rare but dread wheels falling off disease. We may never know.

 

I think we covered most of the reasons why wheels can fall off a jeep while driving....like the cat having nine lives minus two and counting

 

Seriously.....time to move on.....