When reinstalling a wheel and tire assembly on a vehicle, how should the lug nuts be tightened?

Tightening lug nuts with a torque wrench is the preferred method because it allows for precise application of force to each nut, ensuring that they are tightened to the vehicle manufacturer's specified torque specifications. This is crucial for maintaining the safety and performance of the vehicle. Using a torque wrench helps prevent the lug nuts from being overtightened, which can lead to stripping the threads or even damaging the wheel. Additionally, it minimizes the risk of the lug nuts becoming loose while driving due to uneven torque.

When using a torque wrench, it is important to follow the recommended tightening sequence, typically a crisscross or star pattern, which ensures even distribution of force across the wheel and helps prevent warping of the brake rotors or wheels. While a standard wrench or a pneumatic tool may serve the purpose of tightening, they do not provide the same level of control over the torque applied. Randomly tightening lug nuts can lead to uneven stresses being placed on the wheel and hub assembly, which can compromise vehicle safety and performance.