Any point? Locking wheel bolts/nuts

Diagro

Diagro

Diagro

Soldato
Joined
3 Jun 2012
Posts
11,317
Yo.

Is there any actual point in these on most cars?

This is the second time I have had to pay to remove them as the key is lost.

They just seem to cause issues... such as today I set aside this morning to change a shock.... and now that time was spent sorting thsee nuts out.

Do people run their cars without them?

I plan to.
 
It depends on a few things - such as:

  1. How dodgy an area you live in
  2. How desirable are your wheels (OEM, 22" Chrome Spinners etc.)
  3. How often you are likely to be removing your wheels
  4. How forgetful/careless you are with the key(s)
  5. How inconvenient it would be if someone stole some or all of your wheels
  6. How rich you are

For instance, someone who lives in an deprived area plagued by car crime, with flash wheels worth 2k, who seldom removes his wheels, isn't forgetful or careless, who would be significantly inconvenienced if they were stolen, and doesn't have the money to replace them plus tyres is more likely to use a set.

When I had my TE37's I had two sets on the car. It never caused me any issues.

It's primarily whether you are willing to accept the risk of the worst case scenario. I wasn't.

kindai said:
How do you lose the key? Just keep it with the spare wheel / in the glovebox.
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Similarly, I don't really understand the problem. I didn't keep them in such an obvious location but it's not exactly difficult to remember to hide them in the same place each time you need the wheels off.

The more realistic issue is garages buzzing them on too tight. I just asked them not to if they needs wheels off and never had an issue.
 
geekman said:
I've seen somebody remove 4 locking wheel nuts in 5 minutes with basic tools. Totally pointless IMO.
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Was just about to post exactly the same thing. Since this I have never bother with locking nuts.

If people are really wanting the wheels they will always get them!
 
They exist so mechanics can spend (and charge for) several hours of their time, as they search the whole car looking for where the flippin' heck the blinkin' customer hides the bloody socket instead of the dedicated freakin' place the dang manufacturer made for it... before the customer finally answers their bloomin' phone, but doesn't have a scooby what you're even talking about, never mind where they put it!!
 
We had the spare off the Defender nicked last year. The vehicle was parked in Central MK and the wheel was secured with a locking wheel nut. It's one of the reasons we decided not to keep it.

I'd have thought that if you lived in a higher risk area that the thieves would be more likely to have the right tools than they might otherwise.
 
geekman said:
I've seen somebody remove 4 locking wheel nuts in 5 minutes with basic tools. Totally pointless IMO.
Click to expand...

possibly so, but how long does it take to remove 4 normal nuts? 30 seconds, that extra time could make all the difference, my wheels are worth a fair bit, even if the nuts only serve as a small deterrent/hinderance its better than nothing?
 
geekman said:
I've seen somebody remove 4 locking wheel nuts in 5 minutes with basic tools. Totally pointless IMO.
Click to expand...
It really depends on the design.

A few years ago a garage managed to damage one so the key wouldn't fit anymore on my old XF, it took them a full day to get it off. None of their usual tools would work, and they ruined a few different drill bits in the process of finally drilling through the centre of it. I didn't pay for the time either, so it's not as if they had anything to gain by making it look hard. I really doubt anyone could get one like the XF has off easily without being heard or seen.
 
geekman said:
I've seen somebody remove 4 locking wheel nuts in 5 minutes with basic tools. Totally pointless IMO.
Click to expand...

GinG said:
Was just about to post exactly the same thing. Since this I have never bother with locking nuts.

If people are really wanting the wheels they will always get them!
Click to expand...

As with all prevention methods regarding thievery, it's as much about physical prevention as it is about making theft as difficult as possible to the point they are deterred. Of course if someone wants them bad enough they can get them - but then again, they can stick a knife in your face and take your keys at the end of the day.

If it takes them twice as long, or means they need special tools (I.e. they risk being found going equipped), there will be a point where they won't bother.

That's the problem with the "what's the point?" argument. At what point do you draw the line? Leave the keys in the ignition with it unlocked as "if they want it, they'll get it anyway"?

It's about reasonable and realistic attempts to deter.
 
Personally, the risk of me losing the key / some idiot in a garage losing the key and not admitting it / the key getting broken outweighs the small amount of extra security they may give in some situations.

Perhaps some systems are better than others, but the ones I saw were so ineffective I reckon even I could remove them in a few minutes, let alone someone who sets out to steal wheels.
 
Echoing what Gayjin said.

For the opportunist thief even the smallest of deterrent is worth it. In his/her mind, why go for the hardened target when there is a softer one available elsewhere?
 
You can remove them with a basic socket and also online you can buy proper tools to remove them simply so not really any point, Maybe at best a detterent
 
Having had issues with locking bolts/nuts twice now, I've removed mine completely, I'll take the risk as they are very recessed so you'd have to look closely and honestly I'd happily claim for a new set of wheels on insurance in the unlikely event the wheels went missing.. I'm sure they'd steal the entire car first though!
 
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