To me it seems like a good idea to use anti seize grease on the wheel lug nuts but the tire people have told me to avoid using it because it causes thread wear. I find it hard to believe that the use of anti seize grease can cause the threads of the lugs to wear. What are your thoughts on their theory?

 

Use of Anti Seize on Vehicle Lug Nuts

 

Our in-house mechanic has always used it, I have as well. Never an issue. I could see how potentially it could wear down over time, if you took your lug nuts off every day...ever.

 

It reduces the friction, so the same torque is actually going to have more clamping force. That is what MIGHT damage the studs, not the anti-seize itself.

 

I always do.

 

I've been using Bostik Never Seez Regular grade on wheel studs for about 35 years.


Never have any wheels ever come loose. I also rarely if ever re-torque.
But what I also do is never tighten the nuts with the wheels on the ground. With the wheel off the ground I tighten them, in the correct star pattern, until they are snug, tighten a little more in the star pattern, then torque using the star pattern.
I do the same on alloys as well, and also apply it to the face of the steel washer to prevent galvanic corrosion between the steel and alloy.
All I can say is that it works.
Here's a hub after sitting in the dirt for 10 years. All 5, which had Never Seez applied before installation of the nuts, could have come off with a 1/4" drive wrench.