Rust around wheel nuts may mean: Question Rust around wheel nuts may mean: Answers It recently rained. The nuts are loose. The tires should be replaced. The nuts are too tight. Explanation Rust around wheel nuts may mean that they are loose. Check the tightness of the nuts if you see any rust in the area. This questions appears in the following tests: Alabama Class A Knowledge Test Florida Passenger Illinois HazMat Kansas Passenger Massachusetts Tank New Jersey Tank North Dakota Class B Knowledge Test Oregon Class B Knowledge Test Pennsylvania Tank