Final answer:
No, you should not tighten lug nuts with the lowest setting on a wrench. You should instead use a torque wrench set to the vehicle-specific torque specification to properly secure the wheel without causing damage or safety issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
When changing tires, you should not necessarily tighten the lug nuts with the lowest setting on the wrench. The proper torque to tighten the lug nuts on a wheel is specific to the vehicle and wheel specifications. It is important to refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual or a professional standard to find the correct torque specification. Over-tightening can cause damage to the wheel or studs, while under-tightening can result in the wheel becoming loose, which is a safety hazard.
You can use a wrench to both tighten and loosen lug nuts; however, for safety and to ensure that the wheel is properly secured, an adequately calibrated torque wrench is the preferred tool. Torque wrenches can be set to a specified level of force, which allows you to tighten the lug nuts to the exact recommended torque. When all lug nuts are hand-tightened to make the wheel flush against the hub, you would then use the torque wrench in a star pattern to evenly distribute the load and to prevent warping of the brake rotor or the wheel.