The Deal

How effective are these things at preventing Rim theft? is it a matter if the theif using a universal key? do they need impact to do it???

tophersworld

They keep honest people honest. But if someone wants your rims there is a sharp toothed socket that most tire shops have ( and guess who else) that with a slap of a hammer will remove a lock as easily as any lug nut.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

I can back that up.

Atomic_Ed

Wouldn't it be cool to have an anti-theft device that uses stun gun technology through the rims when the security system is armed. This way when a low life thief trys to steal a rim and touches the metal... Wham 30k volts knocks them on their a$$!

Frank Fontaine

I don't think they work at all. My friend just got new Michelins for her Subaru Forester, and when we were golfing I told her her locks looked all scuffed-up and one was missing.

She went back to the tire shop and they said they'd order her a new set free. My guess is they didn't use the key she gave them (she forgot to ask for it back and now they say they don't have it), maybe misplaced it, and just finessed all 4 locking lugs off.

We have to get out of this idea that we can stop thieves who are pros. By now we should realize that a car is opened in less than 10 secs. with locksmith tools, 5 with the rock-through-window procedure, and that even LoJack is of little use with the serious thief.

gtr_rider

iTrader: (50)

Its a shame isnt it..

The Deal

Grrr... I figured they didnt do much.

Heres my plan. I have a tight drive way with a car on my left, the house on my right (very close 6inches maybe) and a car behind me. I also have autolock which locks the brake and prevents shifting out of park. They can get to the left side of the car pretty easily but to get anthing around the right side lugs would require moving the car and inturn, the cars -or the wall- around me... Hows that sound?

Conrad283

iTrader: (2)

I ordered lug nuts and they came with a key and I was in the shop the other day and a regular lug nuts remover got them off.

TXT-1

iTrader: (1)

I had a Eagle Talon awhile back which I bought used and it had wheel locks on them. When I got my tires changed out, they had no problem getting the rims off with out the "key" so I would say no, they do not work.

PakiPlaya07

iTrader: (1)

This gets me worried about my wheels on the Altima especially now that I am in New York. I thought I could feel a little safer with the tuner lugs plus the wheels locks that came with the car but I guess not

TXT-1

iTrader: (1)

Just like anything, if the thieves want them, they will get them one way or another. Sad, but true.

talisman311

Hrm....I read somewhere a long time ago about a wheel lock where the outer shell turned so it was a pain in the **** to get off.

jackiss2888

iTrader: (3)

buhhh... i think electrically charged rims when the car is armed is ideal...

maxgtr2000

iTrader: (29)

Most thieves have a key for your lugs especially since anyone can buy them in a store.

Deckdout2

iTrader: (151)

If they want your eesh, they're going to take it no matter what type of security you have. Your best bet is to not make it easier for them to take.

Don't think the stun gun idea would work, but be the first to come up with one, I'll be in line to buy.

There are these lugs that I've got called, Tuner Lugs. (You can rice out and get all sort of colors, but I preferred to stick with polished). Actually, these are the only type of lugs I can use for my wheel because the holes are that small. The corners are not on the outside, and it uses a special solid key/tool plus the addition of a regular (measurement) socket and a short extension and wrench. The lug is drilled straight through, the outside is round. Kinda like the "Lug" being the socket, and the "Key" is the socket wrench. I think they are very secure because if you don't have this type of key, it won't work, and the universals are not usable on this. Another "feature" is that they completely replace all of your current lug nuts, not just one on each wheel. So if whomever wants to sit there and fiddle with every single lug then they deserve to take it. : On another note, if someone walks up with their trusty "Universal Key", they'll probably be dumbfounded to find out that it won't work.

I've heard from only one person, that the only bad thing is that the inside might rust a little. I've had these for over 5 months under most weather conditions and no signs of it yet. The ricer painted ones might, but my polished has been pretty good so far.

You can see them below.

Frank Fontaine

Snap On! Snap Off! From what you describe they should be able to come off easily, maybe it's just unexpected that the lugs are drilled through (is that advisable?). But I agree with you, making things harder could foil the drunken college student or Hooters waitstaff from easily stealing your property!

leeI35

I think wheel locks do help in preventing rim theft. I had Giovannas on my Qx4 and I had 4 packs of wheel locks. I put 4 four on each wheel and i had a key for each wheel. Let me tell you, I had my center caps taken twice and I had two wheel locks removed but, I can verify that thieves see that you put extra effort in securing the wheels with locks on every nut, they get kind of turned off. My friend which had another set of giovannas not like mine, only had one wheel lock on each rim, and he had his two rear wheels stolen. So, I do think putting extra wheel locks or adding extra tuner locks to a wheel/rim does work.

aLtWeEzY

ive seen these taken off w/ just a knife and flathead screwdriver

theMax

http://gator-grip.com/ = universal key

Sly

I have something that seems to work better than most wheel locks...cheap plain-jane rims.

lfc.reds

After a couple stuns and a spread of word, they'll probably come prepared to not ground themselves during the raid. Or they may raid the stun gun first then move on to the tires. Hard to win this battle. :-|

chernmax

iTrader: (15)

Locking lug nuts are good to prevent stupid people from removing your rims, I have a set of shark tooth rachets and a hammer that can remove any locking lug beyond that. Sleep good and make sure your insurance is up to date. My car gets locked down in a garage every night...

ICULookN

iTrader: (3)

I agree, I have 5 set of wheel locks: 2 gorrilla locks and 3 sets of mcgard locks.

2 Da Max

iTrader: (2)

take a unibit and break the lock right off, ive seen it done before

Frank Fontaine

You're a fantastic customer, Gorilla and McGard should get you to do a commercial! Wow, you spend more $ on those products than most people spend on tires.

Because what you did cost so much money, I don't think there will be any way to prove or disprove whether your setup prevents theft or not. My hunch is that it does not. The only way I can think of testing your setup is to drop your car off for some expensive tires, say Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, and don't mention the locks. If you pick up your car at 5 pm with the brand new Michelins, you know it was a piece of cake to remove those locks and put them back on.

Slider

Hey it's better than nothing. It will detter some of the n00b thieves, and slow the pros down.

dubsonmax

tuner locks are very easy to come off. all u need is a 1/2 in extension with a ratchet or a 6 sided star bit with a ratchet and it comes off with no problem. I know because my dad owns a wheel shop.

ICULookN

iTrader: (3)

The gorilla locks were $15 a set off ebay and the mcgard locks were $35.00 a set, a $150+ is a small price to pay on $1200 rims and $700 tires. No theft system is unbreakable, the reason is just to slow them down. Hopefully the rookie thieves want even try and the Pros will hesitate and say it isn't worth it. So far so good.

Nismo3112

iTrader: (12)

Are you kidding me?

1) That probly wouldnt fit into most wheel holes
2) I used my friends Gator Grip, it had a tough time unscrewing a regular hex bolt, because it kept slipping. And given the torque that lug nuts are tightened at, it will surely slip.

Ride2kMax

iTrader: (10)

What about center caps how do you protect them?
Anybody,

rsly33

iTrader: (1)

Exactly, they will stop some punk kid thief, but someone who really knows what they are doing is gonna take them locks and all

04BlackMaxx

Keep factory rims...Id never be able to go to the mall or go to unfamiliar places in comfort knowing my ride was sitting on thousands of dollars worth of chrome bling....the car looks good as it is IMO. Im not into bling anyway, but alot of ppl are, and im sure the thieves are more often than not drawn to tasteless, too big, chrome rims.

THT

iTrader: (8)

I've seen two sets of wheel locks taken off in less than a minute. They are not an effective method of deterring professional thieves.

RastaManMax

iTrader: (5)

If wheel locks worked to 100% then they wouldn't be sold to the general public. Reason being, some noob would buy a set, loose the key and then whine that their wheels are stuck on their car.

As was previously mentioned, the only way to make it harder for people to steal your wheels is to put locks on them, but if they really want them, they'll get them.

LEMAR

aznsap

iTrader: (29)

i have lightweight lug nuts...... they work for reducing unsprung weight.