r/Cartalk • u/Ed_Reardon • 15h ago
Tire question Are locking wheel nuts still necessary?
I can remember seeing cars up on bricks years ago with the wheels stolen but now, it appears people just steal the car. So, is it worth having locking wheel nuts?
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u/Waste-Middle-2357 10h ago
Why spend 30$ on locking wheel nuts? I have a way better idea. Spend 4500$ or more on custom suspension and slam your car so low to the ground that thieves aren’t getting a jack or block or brick underneath to lift it up anyway. This also protects your catalytic converter, which wheel locks won’t.
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u/onelivewire 4h ago
Big brain talk
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u/EllipsisT-230 2h ago
That's some sort of multidimensional checkers there. It's really just an expensive excuse to modify a car. Why do you scrape over every bump, and one wheel comes off the ground when you enter the grocery store parking lot?
Well, I gotta protect my ride. ?
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u/ratscabs 15h ago
People have always stolen cars….
Maybe they don’t steal wheels because these days they all have locks on? Just sayin.
Back in the day you had to remove your car radio from the dash and take it into the pub with you or it would get nicked for sure. But nowadays nobody steals car radios because they’re integrated.
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u/MuhThugga 11h ago
I have always detested keyed lugnuts. I much prefer spline-drive lugs.
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u/EllipsisT-230 2h ago
Yeah. My mama always said a lock just keeps honest people honest. Really, it just sends the less prepared thief down the road.
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u/Ok_Hornet6822 8h ago
Locking lug nuts do nothing to stop theft. It takes only a few seconds to defeat them. They’re primarily there as a dealer installed item designed to extract more from your pocket.
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u/T_Rey1799 14h ago
Eh. Maybe. In the 20 years my dealership has been open, we’ve had the wheels on a Charger stolen. That’s it. Why somebody would steal factory charger wheels is beyond me, but yeah. 20 years and one set stolen, yet I live in the not-so-nice part of town, and I’ve never had any of my wheels stolen. If someone really wants the wheels though, they will get them.
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u/Bigwhtdckn8 15h ago
A set of locking nuts for £30-35 is not much to pay for peace of mind.
I've never had a set of wheels without putting locks on them and they've never been stolen, I keep the key in the car, as do most people I expect, so if they wanted to steal the wheels they could.
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u/xxrambo45xx 10h ago
Get a strong magnetic box and put the wheel lock in there, put it somewhere under the car/ under the hood
Thieves make me especially mad, im willing to even inconvenience myself a bit to deter them
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u/juniortifosi 13h ago
Locking nuts are not prevent theft but they are a deterrent. So it is basically a peace of mind item.
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u/FeastingOnFelines 7h ago
If I was a wheel thief I’d just buy a set of all the keys…
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u/Ze_Gremlin 7h ago
I had to buy a new locking nut key for a car, as the one that it came with was for the wrong year of that particular model.
£120 for a new key, and I had to provide my V5 as proof that I owned a car of that year.
Getting a set for each and every year, for each and every model, for each and every make is gonna rack up a hefty bill.. let alone getting the paperwork to authorise them.
This was a Peugeot, BTW, so I don't know if other manufacturers are as hot on it.
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u/Stache- 13h ago
I would throw some Gorilla spinning wheel locks on it. They make it a bit harder to remove due to they spin. Don't just leave the removeal tool in your glovebox or easy place to find it inside your car.
You could buy a $30 handgun lockbox that goes under a vehicle seat. They come with a cable you install to metal part of the seat mounting bracket.
https://www.amazon.com/Younion-Portable-Travel-Gun-Safe/dp/B07D9DCJLH?th=1
They come with a cable you loop around metal part under your seat and insert it back the box before locking it. They sell keyed or combination lock version.
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u/Turbulent_Cellist515 10h ago
They're fine till someone over tighens them with impact, breaks key and you can't get tires off if you have a flat.
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u/piratewithparrot 9h ago
People do still steal wheels although it isn’t all that common. It really depends on where you live and crime in your area.
If you live in a safe area then you shouldn’t worry much. Some people also have expensive wheel and tire setups. If your wheels and tires are worth a lot then maybe protect your investment. Thieves can tell what can make them money.
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u/KebabRacer69 7h ago
They don't protect against shit. Anyone can buy a set of keys for not much. If someone wants to steal your wheels, they will.
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u/mr_lab_rat 7h ago
I don’t bother with them anymore. I live in pretty safe area. One of my cars has very expensive OEM forged wheels but I have insurance with low deductible, I don’t want to mess with locks.
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u/thatoneguy6884 6h ago
They are a precaution, but there seems like there are only so many types of keys. So i don't know how effective they are. I was considering getting them for my daily with stock wheels. I definitely plan on getting them on my project car that will have nicer aftermarket wheels. But I know the protection is limited.
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u/NuclearHateLizard 5h ago
I always thought they were superfluous as all hell, but I keep seeing tons of posts of new Toyota's and Honda's getting their wheels stolen
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u/Downtown-Ice-5022 5h ago
At my dealer rims have been stolen more than three times in 8 years. Also had at least 5 gas tanks drilled out, some on the lot.
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u/stoned-autistic-dude 4h ago
No. I can remove them by hammering on a bigger socket, like 24mm if memory serves, and using an impact or socket wrench to remove them.
Locks only serve to keep honest people honest.
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u/InsuranceEasy9878 14h ago
The universal truth applies here - it depends.
If you have some standard OEM wheels, or they are beaten up, or otherwise "not worth stealing", don't bother with locking nuts. But with some nicer, more expensive option or aftermarket wheels, it is worth to have that small extra safety. This will keep crackheads from taking your wheels, but if someone really wants to steal them they don't really matter because the key sets are widely available.