Image: BC Highway Patrol / BC Highway Patrol officers are reminding drivers to tighten their lug nuts, especially after motorists swap their regular tires for winter tires.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

BC Highway Patrol

BC Highway Patrol reminds motorists to tighten their lug nuts after truck crashes in Chilliwack

Feb 6, 2025 | 9:03 AM

CHILLIWACK — BC Highway Patrol officers are reminding drivers to tighten their lug nuts, especially after motorists swap their regular tires for winter tires.

Like in the case of a Ford pickup truck that crashed earlier this week on Monday (Feb. 3) in Chilliwack, says BC Highway Patrol Corporal Michael McLaughlin. The driver had changed to winter tires and wheels, but forgot to check the lug nut tension.

“Winter tires are a great way to make your vehicle safer on slippery roads; but if you don’t tighten your lug nuts, you might soon be driving a sled,” BC Highway Patrol wrote in a statement.

About 100 kilometers after every wheel change, motorists need to check their lug nuts to make sure they haven’t loosened.

“This 4×4 had great tires and a confident driver, but no amount of confidence can overcome a missing wheel,” Cpl. McLaughlin said.

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Most service centres offer a free lug nut tightening follow-up after they have swapped winter tires. Drivers can also do it themselves in less than five minutes with your vehicle’s service manual, a torque wrench, and a lug wrench (tire iron).

Along with checking your lug nut tension at least twice a year, BC Highway Patrol recommends that you regularly check your tire wear, tire pressures, and to make sure there are no foreign objects stuck in your tires or wheel wells.