Is driving with 3 out of 4 lugs on your wheel dangerous?

[psteng19]

The guy who changed my tire bolted on one of the lugs crooked and it took me forever to get that thing off (had to change a tire).

It's all damaged (the grooves are all stripped) and I can't get that one lug on now, so i have to drive it to the shop to get it fixed.

Is it safe to drive with only 3 lugs, short term at low speeds (30-40mph)?

bolt pattern 4 X 100, on the rear left wheel of a FF car if it makes any difference.

 

[NewCompGeek]

no its fine just take 1 off the other tires and that would even it out

 

[amb#cog]

I would myself, but would fix it A.S.A.P.

They have made cars w/ 3 lugs, like the Renault LeCar, and I think that little Ford (forget the name) had it too.

I have 5 lugs, and at least one of my wheels has that same problem. My mechanic (good friend of mine) says it's nothing to worry about, and since it's been that way for over a yeay, and countless times over 100MPH. I believe him.

Just be careful. Check the tightness often, and get fixed as soon as time/money allows.

Good luck.

 

[amb#cog]

<< no its fine just take 1 off the other tires and that would even it out >>



LOL

 

[jbod]

I drove a car for 3 years with a lug missing. It could possibly cause the wheel to be out of balance though.

It doesn't cost that much to get it fixed either.

 

[Brutuskend]

I hope not, as I'm running 3 on TWO of my wheels right now!!


See this thread!!

 

[psteng19]

wow, that's really something Brutuskend.

How are pro's gonna let that happen?
and HOW did it happen. Did they not tighten the lugs all the way?

if i were you, I'd take it back to them and have them repair the damages.

and if i were the guys that "fixed" your car (or the shop owner), I'd be obliged to repair the damages.
(of course there's more to consider other than morals, because I'm not thinking from the standpoint of the owner who's going to lose money).

 

[jbod]

<< See this thread!! >>



CRAZY!!!

I was sideswiped by a semi once, did a 360 through 4 lanes of traffic and got hit by a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I saw the Jeep coming.....SLAM into the rear driver's side. I thought that was the end of my existence. But I walked away with a bruised elbow.

 

[thomsbrain]

Probably ok to drive for a awhile. I'd take it back to the guy that changed your tire and make him get you a new wheel, though.

 

[cornbread]

Doesn't matter if you fix it or not, as long as the other 3 nuts are nice and tight (in the 100 ft lb area). Ridden a few cars with missing nuts for speeds of constant 100-120mph+ on the freeways for hours at a time with no problem.. Now if you got down to 2, then you need to slow it down and get it fixed...
Might as well fix it yourself anyways, its quite easy to do on most cars.. 30 mins max if you're slow at it...

 

[Bignate603]

My mom was driving my grandfather's beat up subaru when it lost ALL the lug nuts. The wheel fell off. She had enough control to make the car pull over. She picked up the tire and walked back about a 1/4 mile and found 2 nuts, jacked up the car, put them back on (with one yoinked from another tire) and drove away from it. There was a part of the frame that stuck down low enough to save the brake when the far fell over.

 

[kt]

at low speed it should be fine.. i drove on 4 loose because the idiot at the shop forgot to tighten them. it was fine driving on the street, but once i got on the freeway the whole damn car started to shake. i thought it was my engine at first then some guy in a car beside me started to point at my right front wheel. so, i pulled over and tighten the lugs myself.

 

[Pacfanweb]

You won't have a problem, but you should get it fixed sooner rather than later.

Lug nuts come apart sometimes....it happens. It isn't always because someone cross-threaded the nut when putting it on. There may have been a burr on the nut that was destined to chew on the stud next time it was removed. Happens all the time.
I just replaced a stud on my Tahoe that the nut came off cross threaded.....and I know for a FACT that it was put on properly.

 

[Squisher]

Like others have said, ok for now, don't do any Fast and Furious impressions. Fixing it yourself is a breeze. Knock old one out the back, use the nut to draw the new one back through.

 

[CocaCola5]

<< The guy who changed my tire bolted on one of the lugs crooked and it took me forever to get that thing off (had to change a tire).

It's all damaged (the grooves are all stripped) and I can't get that one lug on now, so i have to drive it to the shop to get it fixed.

Is it safe to drive with only 3 lugs, short term at low speeds (30-40mph)?

bolt pattern 4 X 100, on the rear left wheel of a FF car if it makes any difference. >>





Once did over 110mph in a car like yours (FF) while knowing I had a missing lug on a front wheel. But I wasn't stupid, I knew the speed of my car was irrelevant because my little four cylinder engine, though strong, could never present the kind of engine load (light vehicle and low torque) to dislodge any of the other three good lugs.

 

[Kadarin]

I used to sell tires (in a past life) and saw it quite often. There's no harm as long as the other three are torqued properly. Get the wheel stud replaced as soon as you can, though... most of the time it's not an expensive repair.

-j