Originally Posted by edp773
Clockwise on almost all wheels. It is clockwise whether you are tightening the spokes on the bottom or the top. You just have to think about which direction is clockwise.
Normally, I turn the bike upside down and check rim runout while tightening the spokes. The spokes will more than likely creak and pop on the first ride after adjusting them.
The OP sounds like he wants to do it with the tires on therefore with a spoke wrench, you have the turn the nipples counterclockwise to tighten. If you want to do it with the tire off with the other side of the nipple underneath the rim tape (trying to use layman's terms here), you turn it clockwise to tighten. Either way, you're turning the nipple in the same direction.