Locking wheel nuts, any use?

Alun · 03-10-2013 1:08pm #1

A neighbour had all 4 of his alloys stolen last night, front of car up on blocks, rear just dropped on the road :eek:

There are some suspicions it might have some kind of fit-up job (new tyres fitted only a few days ago, and was told that the locking nuts were 'broken' when the car was collected:rolleyes:), so there may be no danger to others in the estate, but it prompted me to think of maybe getting locking nuts fitted.

I gather that at least some of the cheaper ones are ridiculously easy to get off without the 'key', but are some of the more expensive ones any better?

Wibbs · 03-10-2013 1:25pm

The ones with the rotating collars and a recessed "key" are a bugger to get off if you lose the key socket(don't ask how I know...

), so would slow scum down a fair bit alright. the McGard ones are good quality. Tilt switch on the alarm is a another preventative measure(Shock sensors are pretty useless and tend to false alarm).

Alun · 03-10-2013 1:32pm

Thanks, I've no alarm on the car, just an immobilizer. I've seen the McGard ones with the rotating collar on the Halfords website. Might pop up and get some tomorrow.

VeVeX · 03-10-2013 1:34pm

McGard SL Ultra are the ones to go for.

They can take 10 minutes to remove with specialist tools vs. 5 seconds for cheapy ones.

Henry Ford III · 03-10-2013 1:45pm

I think they are essential. Decent alloys are expensive.

Craazysteve · 03-10-2013 2:16pm

I got 4 new tyres on the car a couple of months back, and it was only when I was driving away I realised I had never shown them where I had the key for locking wheel nuts! Would a garage/tyre place have a sort of universal key for this situation, or does it prove that the locking nuts are of no use?

Hal1 · 03-10-2013 2:26pm

I had to buy a new set of mcgards yesterday and a removal tool to get the old ones off and get someone with air tools to remove it. Some bollox fuxed two of them on me with an impact gun when getting an alignment done. I only noticed it when going to change my brake fluid.

sunnysoutheast · 03-10-2013 8:40pm

Craazysteve wrote: »

I got 4 new tyres on the car a couple of months back, and it was only when I was driving away I realised I had never shown them where I had the key for locking wheel nuts! Would a garage/tyre place have a sort of universal key for this situation, or does it prove that the locking nuts are of no use?

It's normally in the plastic box in the boot, surely they will know that. Well worth making a point of checking that you you have the Jesus nut in there before you leave the place.

Craazysteve · 03-10-2013 9:09pm

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

It's normally in the plastic box in the boot, surely they will know that. Well worth making a point of checking that you you have the Jesus nut in there before you leave the place.

Oh I know, but I had put it in the back of the glovebox at some point, in a bag, and that's where it still was afterwards.

Locking wheel nuts, any use?

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