Does anyone use Locking wheel lug bolts
- Thread starter Ted Kramer
- Start date
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scottdm
Full Access Members
Interesting idea, but look to be tailored to OEM wheel styles when many of the high dollar wheels are aftermarket forged, etc. Seems like most thieves would just scratch the heck out of the wheels for spite and you'd still have to replace the wheels at the end of the day. I always thought it would be easy to remove the valve stem cores on all 4 tires for a little mischief...
Ted Kramer
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Joedirtyshirt
Member
$30.00 gets a reversed thread socket to take any lock off, Ins. will replace wheels, I would worry more about were you park. I get to charge people with those locks, a real their will steal the car, in N.Y.C. they smash out windows
Old Thread but commenting since I have been researching wheel locks since I just spent 4k on wheels and tires.
Seems the consensus today at least, it they do nothing. You can buy kits anywhere that remove all types of wheel locks.
And the thief's today with the help of the internet, come fully prepared.
Pros: None, not even a deterrent today, maybe 10-15 years ago they were
Cons: Look bad, loose the key, some are hard to torque to 150lbs without jacking up the key slots.
Also IMO thieves are looking for Euro Tuner type rims which can be up to 10K tires and rims and are lighter and smaller than a larger kinda plain expedition, bulkier and heavier tires/rims.
Seems the consensus today at least, it they do nothing. You can buy kits anywhere that remove all types of wheel locks.
And the thief's today with the help of the internet, come fully prepared.
Pros: None, not even a deterrent today, maybe 10-15 years ago they were
Cons: Look bad, loose the key, some are hard to torque to 150lbs without jacking up the key slots.
Also IMO thieves are looking for Euro Tuner type rims which can be up to 10K tires and rims and are lighter and smaller than a larger kinda plain expedition, bulkier and heavier tires/rims.
Going_Going_Gone
Full Access Members
Four vehicles ago, we had a Mazda CX-90 that came with a set of locking lug nuts. Took it in for an oil change and left the key on the console. The next day I was looking for the key to store in in the console and it wasn't there. I called the service manager to complain and he basically said that it could not have happened that way because the techs supposedly have "key sets" for the locking lug nuts. If that were the case, then why was the key not where I left it??? I had to buy another key from McGard and never went back to that shyster dealership again. Twelve months later they were bought out by a local chain; and they had been in business since the late 1960s.
5280tunage
Full Access Members
I don't know, I used to shag tires and wheels and I'll say, yes you can defeat these, but you can defeat just about anything. there's been a couple tow trucks stolen in my lovely capital city lately. thieves hide them during the day then use them to steal entire cars at night. I'll still take my chances and hope that most folks will see five locks per wheel and decide to look for an easier target.
Sort of just like why I put cat guards on. Was only $150 and can save well over $1K. And yes, insurance covers these things, but come on folks, the more we have to rely on that the more expensive it gets for everyone. I don't want my risk factor going up and thus my rates. I could actually see auto insurance companies start changing their terms and removing many of these things from coverage. I know in some states they are already working with regulatory agencies to remove cats from coverage due to the fact that they are so heavily stolen, and nothing is slowing or stopping it. Insurance was designed to help cover misuse and accidental issues, not mass theft on a national level. Kind of like how 30yrs ago many home insurance agencies started to distinguish between damage from a slow leak over time and a frozen water line causing instant flooding.
Anyway, I type too much. I recently ordered the Gorilla 71644N set of locks. Haven't installed them yet as I either don't want to fire up the compressor or I haven't gone to my local discount to get them installed, sort of waiting for a rotation. But I hate asking them to install them when I didn't buy them from them...
Sort of just like why I put cat guards on. Was only $150 and can save well over $1K. And yes, insurance covers these things, but come on folks, the more we have to rely on that the more expensive it gets for everyone. I don't want my risk factor going up and thus my rates. I could actually see auto insurance companies start changing their terms and removing many of these things from coverage. I know in some states they are already working with regulatory agencies to remove cats from coverage due to the fact that they are so heavily stolen, and nothing is slowing or stopping it. Insurance was designed to help cover misuse and accidental issues, not mass theft on a national level. Kind of like how 30yrs ago many home insurance agencies started to distinguish between damage from a slow leak over time and a frozen water line causing instant flooding.
Anyway, I type too much. I recently ordered the Gorilla 71644N set of locks. Haven't installed them yet as I either don't want to fire up the compressor or I haven't gone to my local discount to get them installed, sort of waiting for a rotation. But I hate asking them to install them when I didn't buy them from them...
I have had locks on all of my trucks over many years and have had Discount Tire install them every time even though I bought them online. With my Expedition lifted about 4” I also put an alarm with a built-in sensitive sensor that goes off if you even lean on it. I have never a problem with tampering of my wheels or anyone trying to steal my CAT but I also buy the different brand of locks for all of my trucks so it becomes more difficult to steal tires and rims.
My issues with locks is availability. I am all for the extra deterrent though its questionable since most wheel locks are defatable by all but the local neighborhood kid. I cannot find locks that match even close or even fit in my rims. The old McGuard key locks strip easy. Trying to tighten to 150lbs they never make the key deep enough. And other spline based key locks are very easily removed with universal tools.
