"N8N" > wrote in message news:71710639-2921-

> Now, I can't think of a mechanism by which simply undoing and redoing
> the lugs would cause a wheel bearing to fail... right?

No, me either. The mechanic felt the looseness and this was
confirmed by the noise you got with the new tires.. I'm going to
vote that the new tires amplified the need for the new bearings
but had nothing to do with them being worn.