Kia Forte lug nut torque

Kia Forte owner’s manuals give 79–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m) for 2017–2019, 2022, 2024 and 65–79 lb-ft (88–107 N·m) for 2014–2016. Check which applies to yours. Tighten them in a star pattern with a torque wrench.

Sources checked

Wheel nut torque, 2017–2019, 2022, 2024

79–94lb-ft107–127N·m11–13kgf·m

04080120050100150ft-lbN·m

The manual gives a range: any setting inside it is within spec.

As printed
“Wheel lugnut torque Kgf·m (lbf·ft, N·m): 11~13 (79~94, 107~127)”
Source
Forte 2024 Owner's Manual (Kia, US): Tires and wheels specifications

Kia Forte lug nut torque by model year

Model yearTorqueManual page
202479–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications
202279–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications
201979–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications, PDF page 533
201879–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications, PDF page 572
201779–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications, PDF page 567
201665–79 lb-ft (88–107 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications, PDF page 527
201565–79 lb-ft (88–107 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications, PDF page 488
201465–79 lb-ft (88–107 N·m)Tires and wheels specifications, PDF page 467

Read on Kia’s own site on October 19, 2026. Years not listed haven’t been checked yet, or their manual prints no value; check your own manual.

How to tighten them

  1. Clean any dirt or rust off the studs, the nuts and the wheel’s mounting face. Don’t oil them unless the manual says to.
  2. Thread every nut on by hand until it seats against the wheel.
  3. Lower the vehicle so the tire takes its weight, and set a torque wrench to the value for your model year in the table above.
  4. Tighten the nuts in a star pattern, going around two or three times, until the wrench clicks on every nut.
  5. Check the torque again after a short drive if your manual says to.

More detail, including how many passes to make: how to torque lug nuts. Setting and using the wrench: how to use a click torque wrench. Nuts or bolts, car by car: lug nuts vs wheel bolts.

Other Kia models

Questions

What is the lug nut torque on a Kia Forte?

79–94 lb-ft (107–127 N·m) for 2017–2019, 2022, 2024; 65–79 lb-ft (88–107 N·m) for 2014–2016, as printed in Kia’s owner’s manuals (2014–2019, 2022, 2024).

Can I use an impact wrench?

Not to finish. An impact wrench can’t set a torque and easily overshoots it, which stretches studs. Run the nuts down by hand or lightly, then finish with a torque wrench in a star pattern.

Should I oil the studs?

Not unless the manual says so. Torque values assume clean, dry threads; oil lets the same torque stretch the stud further. Some manuals, Kia’s and Mazda’s among them, say to keep oil and grease off wheel nuts and bolts altogether.