Locking Lugnuts?

ArkansasMystic · Jan 16, 2009

I'm looking at a new set of wheels and debating whether or not to get a set of locking lug nuts. It's only a few bucks more, but to me it's always a hassle to keep up with the key, especially when you take it to a shop for something like tire rotation. Do they really help? I'd think that thieves could easily find a way to get around them. I had a recent experience with my g/f's car. It was left unlocked at a repair shop, but the glove compartment was locked (nothing of value in there, just happened to be locked). Someone got in and broke into the glove box. The lock was useless, only thing it done was cause the person to mess up the glove box and dash getting in. I'm thinking the lug nuts are the same way, but no real basis for that. What are your opinions?

duh09 · Jan 16, 2009

I dont think most people wanting to steal your wheels are going to want to go through the extra hassle of locking lugnuts, so the idea is that they'll go onto another car. I had one on my spare on my bronco (came that way) and even though no one would have stolen it around here, it made me feel a little better in cities and stuff. I'd get a few if yuo're investing in some nice rims.

2slo95fiveoh · Jan 16, 2009

If you don't have the key to locking lugnuts, it takes quite a bit of effort to get them off. I would think it would be a definate turn-away
for potential theifs. I would spring for the extra dough, and don't park your car near sketchy people holding a 4-way wrench. haha

ArkansasMystic · Jan 16, 2009

It isn't a money thing, a set of 4 lug nuts with keys is like $7. I'm just not sure that they deter thieves. I.E. the lock on the glove compartment. Had it been unlocked, no damage. However, now we're looking at replacing most of the dash because of it. If they work, excellent. If the don't, I'd like to prevent future problems. Nothing fancy on the wheels, OEM's off a 04 Cobra. Thanks!

Rice_slayer · Jan 17, 2009

The reason why the broke the glove box was because the car was OPEN. Most people see the lock and say "F*** that!" Trust me, it's WELL worth the investment with good wheels. I wouldn't put my new rims on until I had new locking lugs. I guess it's the security benefit. Besides, most people don't even know what a lugnut key looks like.

MadStang · Jan 17, 2009

Rice_slayer said:
The reason why the broke the glove box was because the car was OPEN. Most people see the lock and say "F*** that!" Trust me, it's WELL worth the investment with good wheels. I wouldn't put my new rims on until I had new locking lugs. I guess it's the security benefit. Besides, most people don't even know what a lugnut key looks like.

QFT

As soon as I installed my saleens there was no way I was going to use regular lugs. They had to be locking ones, especially since I live in a not so great area, I don't want my rims nor my expensive auto-x tires taken haha.

uncltrvlnmatt · Jan 17, 2009

Locking lug nuts are a good deterant. But they are not that hard to beat. I bought a car with locking nuts. When I looked at the car the key for it was in the glove box. When I bought the car it was gone. All you have to do to beat locking lug nuts is to hammer a socket onto the nut. You will most likely break the socket doing this, but it works. Most people wanting to steel wheels won't go through that hassle. It takes to long, and makes to much noise. They will most likely move onto an easier target.

jc95gt · Jan 17, 2009

i personally will never put them on my car...i dont see the point, and if i was going to use them i would have 20 locking lug nuts not just 4 lol

this is how i see it. locks only keep honest people honest, and makes thieves more inventive

there are ways they can be taken off, and thieves would be the people who kno how to get them off

Mustangmaster77 · Jan 17, 2009

I bought them for my car and I just keep the key in the glove box :tongue3:, although they wont stop some people it will slow them down

duh09 · Jan 17, 2009

Most thieves wont take that extra time when theres another car around the block with nice rims and no locking lugnuts. Although they're not the best thing ever, its alot better than none. Of course if a theif wants something bad enough, they'll get it. But its nice to try and stop it.

MadStang · Jan 17, 2009

duh09 said:
Most thieves wont take that extra time when theres another car around the block with nice rims and no locking lugnuts. Although they're not the best thing ever, its alot better than none. Of course if a theif wants something bad enough, they'll get it. But its nice to try and stop it.

Another deterrent would be having a car that's so low they cant get a jack under the car to steal the rims LOL.

My car sits so low there's not a jack that will come close to fitting under the k-member. The most a thief will get will be the rear wheels if they can get the lugs off haha.

ArkansasMystic · Jan 17, 2009

So, should I go with 1 lock per wheel or do all locking ones? There's like a $3 price difference, so it's really about what would work better. I'm just afraid of loosing the key, then having my wheels locked on.

MadStang · Jan 17, 2009

ArkansasMystic said:
So, should I go with 1 lock per wheel or do all locking ones? There's like a $3 price difference, so it's really about what would work better. I'm just afraid of loosing the key, then having my wheels locked on.

So long as the business you're buying the lugs from doesn't go out of business, you should always be able to get a replacement key.

I'd just go with the 4 lug keys, rather than all of them, just too much of a pain in the ass to have them all be keyed...

Late4Work · Jan 17, 2009

do it and keep the key in the glove box.....thats where mine is

uncltrvlnmatt · Jan 17, 2009

Late4Work said:
do it and keep the key in the glove box.....thats where mine is

Now that i know the key is in your glove box, I will break your window, break the lock on the glove box, and steel your wheels. But look on the bright side, I will leave the car chocked on batteries so you can go and scrap them for $20.00.

GDawg · Jan 17, 2009

I bought a new set of tires recently only to find out that I had lost my lug nut key... Had to pay an extra $20 for the tire shop to get them off. When they looked at them they said no guarantee that they could get them off cause I had really good ones. I had to buy a new set afterwards too.

duh09 · Jan 17, 2009

If you're gonna get locking ones, keep the key somewhere not easily accesible. I'm going to keep mine with my spare tire in the trunk.

g36 monkey · Jan 17, 2009

i keep mine in the glove box, now everyone make fun of me because the wheels are ugly as sin.

im well aware, but it does help deter. friend has them on his 1987 toyota van, that thing gets vandalized more than any vehicle i know, no attempted wheel steels yet, however the lexus next door (to him) got put up on blocks.

gdgrlsdobdthngs · Jan 18, 2009

I have all locking lugnuts. I broke my spline driveone day, it wasn't hard to get a new one. Just know how many splines yours is before trying to get a new key (less than $10 for a replacement).