BOWIE, Md. — The Tire Industry Association (TIA) is focusing on wheel torque this week during its six-week-long series of free training webinars, with tire repair on tap for week five.
TIA is offering half-hour sessions three times daily on June 9, 10 and 11 on wheel torque issues.
TIA is conducting six weeks of online webinars focusing on different areas of tire service training for passenger and light truck service technicians, the trade group said.
The sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. EDT each day.
The sessions for next week, June 16-18, will focus on tire repair.
Registration for the sessions is open at tireindustry.org/automotive-tire-service-webinars.
The wheel torque webinars will explain the relationship between torque and clamping force and outline each step of the RIST (Remove, Inspect, Snug, Torque) procedure, TIA said.
"By itself, the torque wrench does not guarantee that technicians will install wheels with the correct amount of clamping force to keep them secured to the vehicle," Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training, said.
"Torque plays an important role, but the key to generating the proper clamping force is to follow the RIST procedure."
Looking ahead, Mr. Rohlwing added:
"There is a big difference between stopping a leak and repairing a tire. Knowing that difference could be a matter of life or death for the motorist or help to avoid a crippling lawsuit resulting from an improper repair."