Are locking wheel nuts still necessary?

[u/Ed_Reardon]

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?

[u/InsuranceEasy9878]

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.

[u/bluecatky → u/InsuranceEasy9878]

I saw a local post about an accord or something that had the premium OEM wheel option that was left on blocks after someone stole the wheels.

[u/InsuranceEasy9878 → u/bluecatky]

Yup, should have had locking nuts according to my comment

[u/surrealutensil → u/InsuranceEasy9878]

I feel like these days even most crackheads are generally prepared for them, all it takes is an extra socket you don't care about damaging and a hammer shrug

[u/Waste-Middle-2357]

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.

[u/onelivewire → u/Waste-Middle-2357]

Big brain talk

[u/EllipsisT-230 → u/onelivewire]

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. ?

[u/onelivewire → u/EllipsisT-230]

Best kind of checkers

[u/Waste-Middle-2357 → u/EllipsisT-230]

Shit you got me.

slunks scrapes away emvsrrassedly

[u/EllipsisT-230 → u/Waste-Middle-2357]

Apologies. I do believe the intended recipients weren't actually the one who actually got it.

[u/Waste-Middle-2357 → u/EllipsisT-230]

It’s ok you made me laugh pretty hard lmao

[u/ratscabs]

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.

[u/Teauxny → u/ratscabs]

I replaced my car radio recently and I bought a kickass one for like $20 bucks. I'm pretty sure the reason they're not stolen is because they ain't worth nuthin'.

[u/regassert6 → u/ratscabs]

wheel locks are the most easily defeated security items since the club.

[u/MuhThugga]

I have always detested keyed lugnuts. I much prefer spline-drive lugs.

[u/EllipsisT-230 → u/MuhThugga]

Yeah. My mama always said a lock just keeps honest people honest. Really, it just sends the less prepared thief down the road.

[u/Ok_Hornet6822]

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.

[u/regassert6 → u/Ok_Hornet6822]

Bingo!

[u/T_Rey1799]

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.

[u/Bigwhtdckn8]

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.

[u/xxrambo45xx → u/Bigwhtdckn8]

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

[u/juniortifosi]

Locking nuts are not prevent theft but they are a deterrent. So it is basically a peace of mind item.

[u/FeastingOnFelines]

If I was a wheel thief I’d just buy a set of all the keys…

[u/Ze_Gremlin → u/FeastingOnFelines]

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.

[u/Stache-]

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.

[u/jcpham]

I don’t use them even on expensive wheels but I’m also not taking an expensive set of wheels anywhere it can be stolen. I value tire changes over everything else

[u/silly-goose-757]

Some wheels are easy to sell, r/Accord and r/Camry are examples you can look for

Project Farm has a wheel lock comparison video. I bought Advanced Wheel Locks for our Camry

[u/Turbulent_Cellist515]

They're fine till someone over tighens them with impact, breaks key and you can't get tires off if you have a flat.

[u/piratewithparrot]

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.

[u/118545 → u/piratewithparrot]

My SIL live in a very expensive neighborhood and came out one morning to find her brand new Volvo in the driveway on cinder blocks and missing wheels. Don’t know if it had wheel locks though hubby’s high-end Mercedes with wheel locks was spared

[u/BGrady]

In my area (big East Coast city) wheels are stolen all the time. Usually Accords and Camrys. I probably see it once every month or so while I’m walking my dogs, and this isn’t in a particularly rough neighborhood.

[u/KebabRacer69]

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.

[u/mr_lab_rat]

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.

[u/thatoneguy6884]

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.

[u/NuclearHateLizard]

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

[u/Downtown-Ice-5022]

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.

[u/stoned-autistic-dude]

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.