Wheel Locks

THE SILVERADO · April 28, 2019

Who's running wheel locks? What's your opinion on them? I am debating whether or not I should add them. Let me know what you think.

CamGTP · April 28, 2019

This will be my opinion as a mechanic/Technician here.

They help a little bit but they won't stop someone if they really want your wheels. There are so many different kits out there that will take off stock keys without a hitch. In some you really just need a hammer and the tool so you can smack the removal socket over the locking lug nut.

Even aftermarket keys in most cases are easy too. Spline drives or whatever name you want to call them can be had all over ebay or just walk into a discount tire to buy a key.

Now personally I hate them, just annoying to deal with lol.

UGADawgs · April 28, 2019

Locks keep out honest people, opportunistic jerks, and teenagers or 99% of who you need to worry about. The professionals will most likely just take the vehicle.

THE SILVERADO · April 28, 2019

26 minutes ago, CamGTP said:

This will be my opinion as a mechanic/Technician here.

They help a little bit but they won't stop someone if they really want your wheels. There are so many different kits out there that will take off stock keys without a hitch. In some you really just need a hammer and the tool so you can smack the removal socket over the locking lug nut.

Even aftermarket keys in most cases are easy too. Spline drives or whatever name you want to call them can be had all over ebay or just walk into a discount tire to buy a key.

Now personally I hate them, just annoying to deal with lol.

Thank you for the response CamGTP

THE SILVERADO · April 28, 2019

10 minutes ago, UGADawgs said:

Locks keep out honest people, opportunistic jerks, and teenagers or 99% of who you need to worry about. The professionals will most likely just take the vehicle.

Thanks UGADawgs!

OnTheReel · April 28, 2019

Even though I live in a nice neighborhood, I still have them. Can’t think of any reason NOT to have them, until the truck is on its third owner and the key has long been lost! Which won’t be my problem.

I’m sure some crooks are lazy enough to walk away when they seem ‘em. And if nothing else, they buy me time to catch the more committed thieves in the act so I can give them a “talking to”...

GN2018 · April 28, 2019

I have them because they came with the truck. I view them as one small notch above worthless. If I had something other than stock wheels, I guess I’d try to find the best ones out there and hope for the best, but the best thing to do is have good insurance and if possible, park the truck in a garage.

eppieguy · April 28, 2019

I only have them because the dealer installed them, they are longer than the other lug nuts which drives my OCD crazy! They are nothing more than a deterrent to a thief, if they want the wheels they’re still going to take them.

UGADawgs · April 28, 2019

41 minutes ago, eppieguy said:

I only have them because the dealer installed them, they are longer than the other lug nuts which drives my OCD crazy! They are nothing more than a deterrent to a thief, if they want the wheels they’re still going to take them.

Couldn't have said it any better!

Smoothie · April 28, 2019

I don’t have them. I have had cars with them because they came with them. Like someone said if they want your wheels, locks will not stop them. They are good as a deterrent but that is it.

Edited April 28, 2019 by Smoothie

Wiggums · April 28, 2019

It is like the muffler... my friend had a 1986 Toyota 4-Runner and the muffler kept getting stolen every month or two.

That's because platinum was soaring in price and the 4-Runner mufflers suddenly got popular because it came with a lot of platinum and it was easy to take it out. After the 3rd time it got stolen, he had a great idea to weld it on.

Thieves quickly wised up and took the whole thing instead.

4weight · April 28, 2019

Bought mine from the dealership and are a deterrent for sure. Pros will get if they really want to. Will keep the creeps and scumbags off your wheels.

GN2018 · April 28, 2019

48 minutes ago, Wiggums said:

It is like the muffler... my friend had a 1986 Toyota 4-Runner and the muffler kept getting stolen every month or two.

That's because platinum was soaring in price and the 4-Runner mufflers suddenly got popular because it came with a lot of platinum and it was easy to take it out. After the 3rd time it got stolen, he had a great idea to weld it on.

Thieves quickly wised up and took the whole thing instead.

Reminds me of a car I had that was stolen. It was not my daily driver so it sat a lot. In doing so, the alarm system would run the battery down. Noticed once that the door was broken into. Determined that they tried to steal it but couldn’t get it started. A few months after getting the door fixed, the car was stolen. There on the ground was the battery tie down and a wrench. Yep, they came back with a battery and got the car.

They want it, they get it. Not much you can do. Best hope is indoor storage (garage), but that doesn’t protect you at the store, etc.

As for wheel locks, it’s not really a casual deterrent. Face it, the neighbor kid/thief is going around looking for unlocked doors to steal things left in your car. At the point of stealing your wheels, you’re already beyond the opportunistic thief. They don’t come in at night and look to see who has wheel locks, they come to get your wheels and are prepared to take them whatever is required.