Every time.

Yup.

Always.

However, when I'm at home I have been know to use an air gun to take the nuts off. Not sure if that can create problems?

The other thing I wonder about is those that are breaking lugs, are they using stock nuts with stock wheels? Are they using stock nuts with non-stock wheels? The lug nuts have to match the face of the wheel you are using. Aftermarket wheels likely will not match the face of the stock lug nuts. Likewise, "tuner" lug nuts likely won't match the stock wheels. This could create more stress on the lugs?

 

Using an impact wrench to take them off shouldn't be a problem, unless one is frozen/galled at which point you'll strip the stud right off. I've been using an electric impact wrench for 5+ years on mine to remove them. It sure makes swapping wheels a breeze.

Most of the lug nuts I've seen are the 60º cone style - I can't imagine anybody using anything but those. The 370Z uses the barrel style which wouldn't really work with the cone style wheels that are 350Z compatible.

Having the wrong cone angle or no cone would likely cause problems with the lug nuts coming loose. The matching angle helps make sure you have sufficient mating surface. Wrong angle and you don't get enough mating surface so you don't have enough friction to hold the nut tight.

 

I don't autoX nearly as much as some of you guys, but I do drag race more often than most people I know. I've been changing wheels at the drag strip for years with various styles of wheels/lugs and I only broke 1 stud (using a shank style lug nut). I always hand thread the nuts in/out and always torque mine to 80-85 ft-lbs.

 

I finger start the lugs, use the impact on low torque 'til the wheel lightly presses up against the hub, then shake and finger tighten. To be honest, I just like having a reason to use my impact gun.