I don’t know the physics, I just changed tires just like how everyone else was changing tires, and I never ran into a problem. I even made it home from Topeka, KS, to California without a problem, so I know I was doing something right. Perhaps you could direct this to an autocross e-mail list. I’d be curious to know myself.

You say some other silly stuff that I don’t feel like commenting on. You’re breaking my concentration.

The engineering issue here confuses me. Why torque on the ground? I coulda sworn I did it all sorts of ways, back in my E Stock days. I think my normal habit is to snug things up a fair bit with breaker bar with tire in the air, then lower car a little until tire touches some, then torque. Then lower car for real.

And I probably just touch the tire because it’s a little safer. I don’t feel secure with a tire or two way up in the air, if I’m going to be yanking on things. (Not that I yank with my torque wrench, but, you know.)

My only guess: wheels that aren’t hubcentric? Wheels without proper hubcentricity might be sensitive to this issue. Why folks live without hubcentric wheels, I won’t even begin that grumble.

Another bit of wisdom I learned during my years of constant tire changing at events: it’s a one person job. Talking is not good. Sure, autox is half social, but tire changing, well, one person. Go away, talkers.

I’m wondering if the things were even torqued, or the torque wrench was, you know, actually set. I’s pretty hard to goof this job up, even mildly firm on all four on a wee littul car like yours can hold fairly well. So I’m suspecting they just weren’t torqued, and I’m wondering who broke his concentration. (Let’s blame your mother.)

Oh, and Miata front wheels, nothing stops them from turning, no engine, no parking brake, so torquing that properly with tire in air, that might be a challenge. But presumably, the parking brake was on and/or the engine was in gear, for the rear wheels.

So, my question remains:
a) Why tire on ground, engineeringly speakin’?
b) why are my comments as long as your post? Sorry.