Tyre wheel lock issue

Associate
Joined
25 Jan 2009
Posts
1,909
Location
UK
I've got a Suzuki swift 2005 and noticed a puncture in front tyre today. It's completely flat so I can't drive it.

Was going to hop on the spare wheel but can't get the nuts off tyre with the wrench I have (came with car).

Is there a wheel lock in place? I have no wheel lock key and all bolts look same (no lock is visible)

Bit stumped. Will have to get someone to sort
 
Sadly no. I was considering going out to buy a cross wheel nut wrench. Might help.

Have called a tyre company who will come out to me fox puncture or replace wheel. Just hope they don't ask for a wheel lock key as I don't have one. Pretty sure there's no lock though
 
Worth trying to tighten before loosening if you can get them undone. When using the tools that come with the car I normally stand on the wrench as if they’ve been impacted on you won’t get them off just using normal leverage.
 
If you have no lock nut, phone that tyre guy and tell him not to bother to come out, unless he has the tools to remove one, he would be really ******* with you, if i he came out in weather like this to fix a puncture, to find out he can not get the wheel off....

Look for locknut removal tools if you want to do it yourself, or get it booked in at a garage and get all 4 removed, and new ones fitted
 
It doesn't sound like he has locking wheel nuts, more like the nuts are done up so tight that he can't get them undone?
 
You probably just need an extending/telescopic wheel wrench. We've had one in the boot of the car for years, and it makes changing wheels a doddle. I've probably used it more on other people's cars when they've got a flat and can't get their own wheelnuts out with the silly little bit of tinfoil they call a tyre wrench.

You can stand or jump up and down on a standard wrench, but you're just as likely to bend it as get a stubborn wheelnut out.
 
Agree with the above sounds like standard nuts impacted on (you'd know if they were locking nuts).

When the tyre guy arrives ask him if you can use his impact wrench to loosen off the nuts on the other wheels while he does the tyre, at least then you can tighten them suitably tight yourself for future roadside changes.
 
All sorted. Tyre guy (or more like kid) got the nuts off easily as he had a much longer wrench. Mine is utter crap so will buy better one for future. Prob a cross wrench?

Old tyre was done so he put a new one on.

Luckily had no locks in place. Not sure if I should bother. People don't seem to steal tyres these days. Seems like a lot of effort?
 
All sorted. Tyre guy (or more like kid) got the nuts off easily as he had a much longer wrench. Mine is utter crap so will buy better one for future. Prob a cross wrench?

Old tyre was done so he put a new one on.

Luckily had no locks in place. Not sure if I should bother. People don't seem to steal tyres these days. Seems like a lot of effort?

I think the general consensus is that unless you are using some valuable aftermarket wheels, they are pointless. Most wheels aren't desirable enough for them to be worth the effort for an opportunistic thief. But any thief actively targeting wheels is probably going to be equipped enough that a locking wheel nut isn't going to be an issue for them.

I think a lot of people would be happy to ditch locking nuts as all they tend to do is cause an inconvenience.

As for wrench choices, go for a cross wrench if it gives you peace of mind, but as long as you just ensure that the wheel nuts are correctly torqued next time, they probably wont be an issue to get off.
 
I went out to help my sister and her other half who had a flat. The wheel nuts I suspect had been done up with and impact gun, I'm the wrong side of 20stone and I litterally had to almost jump on the handle of the supplied wrench to try and get them to slacken off. There would have been no way on earth my sister or her other would have been able to change it at the roadside if they had been miles away!. Its alright knowing how to do it, but untill fast fit places all stop over torqueing them with the air impact tool then you might still not be able to do it at roadside
 
Soak it in WD40 first and let it soak in a bit for 10 minutes or so can help.

The hardest one I ever had to do was the front sprocket nut on my motorcycle, 32mm nut. I have a breaker bar at least 3ft, I was literally hanging off it with someone else holding the bike or I would have pulled the whole bike.

Took a blow torch to the nut and eventually with a crack it went.
 
Another fear is snapping the cars lever, or, maybe rounding the nut , you may not have safety glasses available.
the first time i did the gearbox oil, couldn't get purchase reaching under the car, so extended the faithful facom socket wrench,
and lowered, the car using its weight on the extension to shift the nut.
 
Back
Top Bottom