What action should you take after hand tightening the lug nuts during a tire change?

After hand tightening the lug nuts during a tire change, lowering the vehicle back to the ground is the appropriate action to take. This step is essential because it allows the weight of the vehicle to rest on the tire, which helps ensure that the lug nuts are seated properly and that they can be torqued to the correct specifications.

Once the vehicle is on the ground, you can use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to ensure they are secure enough for safe operation. This is critical for maintaining wheel stability, preventing the wheel from coming loose while driving. Furthermore, lowering the vehicle first helps the lug nuts assume a position under load, which can provide a more accurate tightening when subsequently torqued.

Moving on to the other options, lifting the vehicle again would serve no purpose after the lug nuts have already been hand tightened. Driving the vehicle a short distance before ensuring the lug nuts are fully torqued could pose a safety risk, as they might not be secure, causing the wheel to come loose on the road. Lastly, removing the jack from under the vehicle before the lug nuts are properly tightened could create a dangerous situation if the wheel were to come loose while the vehicle was still elevated.