Maintenance & inspection
What is wheel security?
Wheel security is the assurance that wheels are correctly fitted and their fixings correctly torqued. Wheel loss is a low-frequency, high-consequence failure with a well-understood cause.
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<img src="https://fleetoptix.co.uk/glossary/wheel-security/diagram.svg" alt="wheel security — diagram from FleetOptix" width="880" height="620" loading="lazy">
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<a href="https://fleetoptix.co.uk/glossary/wheel-security">What is wheel security?</a> — diagram by
<a href="https://fleetoptix.co.uk">FleetOptix</a>
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</figure>Most wheel losses follow recent removal and refitting. The pattern is consistent enough that a re-torque after a defined running period is standard practice rather than a precaution.
Torque indicators on nuts are a visual aid rather than a check. They show movement since fitting, which is useful, but they do not show correct torque and they are not a substitute for the re-torque.
It is a specific item on a walkaround check for exactly this reason, and it is one of the few where a driver can see the evidence of a developing problem.
What goes wrong in practice
- Re-torque after a wheel change not carried out or not recorded.
- Torque indicators relied on as proof of correct fitting.
- Wheel changes by third parties with no record entering the maintenance file.