Is this true or a load of rubbish

sklouise76

I was just told by my local mechanic that my 2017 Suzuki Vitara has a "special " wheel nut that is needed to take any of my wheels off. He said this should have been provided when I bought it. I bought it last year second hand from a reputable garage. Is this true or was the garage just talking rubbish because they didn't have time to give it a full service ie : brakes etc. If I get a puncture apparently I will have to get towed because this "special" wheel nut is not something that any puncture repair garage would have...I mean I'm finding that hard to believe

blackbox

Security wheelnuts are a real thing. You would know by looking at them.

banie01

Yes, it is true. Wheel lock nuts are a thing

https://www.mrtyre.com/help-and-advice/locking-wheel-nuts-explained/#:~:text=Locking%20wheel%20nuts%20are%20used,specific%20to%20the%20car%20make.

sklouise76

Really helpful thank u. So they are unique to each car or each model ?

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121967544#Comment_121967544

Too many cars on the road for them to be unique to each car, there will be cars with same nut as yours but there are loads of variations so I don't know of any tyre centre or mechanic (or thief) that has a tool to open every one of them.

Not unique to a particular model either.

MarkR

Yes, your car could have wheel locking nuts. Usually one will look different on each wheel, and there's an adapter that you use to remove them. Commonly the adapter would be in the boot with the tools but you could try the glove box.

If you do not have the adapter you could call a Suzuki garage, see if they have the full set of adapters. Otherwise you can ring around garages and see will someone try to remove them. They bang a bigger one over it and try to remove it's but it can damage the wheel if there's not much clearance.

Doctors room ghost

have a good check in the boot and in under the spare etc. it could be thrown in there or in the tool pouch with the wheel brace. It’s probably there somewhere

antodeco

Worst case scenario, get a similar sized adaptor and hammer it onto the security nut. You can take it off then. Be aware though that you'll destroy the security nut too. I've had to do this before

mikewest

Have a really good search of the boot area where the spare is. If this fails a main dealer can order one for you. I had to do this with a BMW in the past. Alternatively, if you find a garage that can take off the special wheel nuts (many have universal removal kits) then remove them and replace with regular wheel nuts.

Akrasia

There should be a code for the wheel nut in the owners manual somewhere (assuming theyre original wheels that came with the car) . If you have the code you can order a spare 'key' for it

witnessmenow

When i bought a second hand car there were in the glove box, so just on the off chance you haven't checked there, do!

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121969540#Comment_121969540

That's where I keep mine!

rob316

Change them out for normal bolts. I had a puncture on the motorway once, I'm on the side of the road trying to take the wheel off, I can't as the idiot that changed my tyres last, sheared the key using an air wrench, so I had to get the car towed to a VW dealer. €50 to change out the lock nut for normal bolts.

kirving

Best thing to do is to call the dealer, with your VIN Number handy and they'll be able to tell you if they have that adapter there. They almost certainly will have it, along with a set of normal bolts.

Mehaffey1

Some tyre centres will be able to order them in too or take a look online but could be hit or miss if you're not sure what you're looking for.

Had all my lock nuts changed to a normal bolt and was more than glad for it. Got a puncture last Sunday night in the rain and was able to change it myself on the driveway