Anyone using the wheel locks?

I don't have them but I did have them on a 1981 car and they came with the car and I replaced them with regular lug nuts because the lock nuts had a pattern in the surface for the removal and I figured it would eventually wear out especially during the winter months and I may have trouble getting them off latter on, and it was eventually a daily driver for about 24 years, and as well my 24 year old 1999 Camaro SS has them an as well I replaced them just in case they would become a problem and as well when ever my car was not driven, it was in a secure garage...almost all my vehicles were very long life vehicles and my 2022 Venue is taking the place of my former daily driver of 20 years...much of what I do with my vehicles is because of the length of time I want to keep them so what I do might not be the right thing for some so maybe keeping the lock nuts might be good for many others.

IF you have popular / desirable wheels, IF they fit the same lower-end models, and IF you live / visit / park in a sketchy area, the wheel locks may make a thief move on to something easier to steal.

Last four cars we've had with alloy wheels have had the factory wheel locks -- cheap insurance compared to trying to source a replacement wheel, especially if they were only popular for a few years.

Wheel locks...they are stealing the entire cars...lol.

imaddicted2u said:

Wheel locks...they are stealing the entire cars...lol.

Click to expand...

Wheel locks are a disaster waiting for the owner to get stuck somewhere without the key. Trust me, I've seen it happen many times and then the car has to be towed to have all wheel locks cut off. Pretty much useless unless you have some serious custom wheels or you live in a neighborhood that you have to worry about...and then I doubt they're going to stop with the wheels. I'm with you on that 💯.

dailygrind said:

Wheel locks are a disaster waiting for the owner to get stuck somewhere without the key. Trust me, I've seen it happen many times and then the car has to be towed to have all wheel locks cut off. Pretty much useless unless you have some serious custom wheels or you live in a neighborhood that you have to worry about...and then I doubt they're going to stop with the wheels. I'm with you on that 💯.

Click to expand...

Ya know, I've always kept the spare lug nuts and the locking lug key in the orginal package with the tire tool(s) / jack / spare, and I have never been stuck anywhere without the key. Of course, before I leave the stealership or tire shop, I always make sure the spare, jack, tools and key are there.

QLENFG said:

Ya know, I've always kept the spare lug nuts and the locking lug key in the orginal package with the tire tool(s) / jack / spare, and I have never been stuck anywhere without the key. Of course, before I leave the stealership or tire shop, I always make sure the spare, jack, tools and key are there.

Click to expand...

Me neither but I also stopped using them since the 80's. It just happened at my work where one of our company cars had a flat and then no one could find the key. Car had to be towed and the stupid thing is that the wheels are nothing special, the plain Jane alloy rims you get with any SE Ford Escape. It's just that they add the wheel locks automatically as an add-on.