Do people still nick wheels?
Discussion
I've not heard of anyone getting their wheels stolen since the late 80s
As soon as I get a new car (to me) I replace all the locking wheel nuts with standard (OEM) ones.
I've had several issues with locking nuts in the past.
I live in the Scottish Highlands but occasionally have over nights in Glasgow/Edinburgh, I always park in well-lit car parks, so the risk of wheel theft is very minimal.
As soon as I get a new car (to me) I replace all the locking wheel nuts with standard (OEM) ones.
I've had several issues with locking nuts in the past.
I live in the Scottish Highlands but occasionally have over nights in Glasgow/Edinburgh, I always park in well-lit car parks, so the risk of wheel theft is very minimal.
I have a 58 reg Vectra SRI with the stock 17inch alloy wheels. When I was having a tyre changed recently one of the locking wheel nuts broke whilst still on the car. The guy at the tyre shop (which is one I trust) said they could take off all 4 locking wheel nuts but they would then be unusable. They would therefore replace them with the original ones which I still had in the box. When I asked about getting a new set of locking wheel nuts because my car is left in the street overnight, they told me not to bother. They said that nobody pinches wheels nowadays because it takes too long, they simply try pinch the whole car. And they said that rather than sell me a new set.
Yes they certainly do
I know of quite few people with warmish ford’s like fiesta’s that have had their wheels nicked
Happened to a friend of mine recently, brand new Fiesta ST, car parked on their drive overnight, the car was repaired and then about a month later the whole car was stolen
It was found minus its wheels, bumpers, wing mirrors and seats, dumped in a lane
That was north of Manchester
I know of quite few people with warmish ford’s like fiesta’s that have had their wheels nicked
Happened to a friend of mine recently, brand new Fiesta ST, car parked on their drive overnight, the car was repaired and then about a month later the whole car was stolen
It was found minus its wheels, bumpers, wing mirrors and seats, dumped in a lane
That was north of Manchester
bobtail4x4 said:
not so much nicking the wheels
garage pointed out to a mate his tyres were bald, they were at most 2000miles old,
when they looked the tyres were a mix of brands,
someone had kindly swapped wheels with him
Happened to our step son not too long ago, rung me about his garage bill and mentioned 4 new tyres, having not long had these replaced I asked why, he said he wasnt sure how it had come about, he had 4 x Continentals fitted and what came off where a mix of Michelin and a another cheap special, the only thing we could think of was this. He has now purchased locking wheel nutsgarage pointed out to a mate his tyres were bald, they were at most 2000miles old,
when they looked the tyres were a mix of brands,
someone had kindly swapped wheels with him
Earthdweller said:
Yes they certainly do
I know of quite few people with warmish ford’s like fiesta’s that have had their wheels nicked
Happened to a friend of mine recently, brand new Fiesta ST, car parked on their drive overnight, the car was repaired and then about a month later the whole car was stolen
It was found minus its wheels, bumpers, wing mirrors and seats, dumped in a lane
That was north of Manchester
Liverpudlian night out....I know of quite few people with warmish ford’s like fiesta’s that have had their wheels nicked
Happened to a friend of mine recently, brand new Fiesta ST, car parked on their drive overnight, the car was repaired and then about a month later the whole car was stolen
It was found minus its wheels, bumpers, wing mirrors and seats, dumped in a lane
That was north of Manchester

Collected a load of end of term renters from Man Apt, part of the brief inspection was checking the spare wheels, classic Fiesta had the spare under the boot on a cradle, leaned under gave it a thump and the wheel dropped off, if i recall correctly the tyre was a 520 x 13 and the wheel most likely from a Ford Anglia circa 1959.
The removal tool on my Merc got wrecked by a careless tyre fitter, he did not let me know what he had done.
Found three months later when tried to remove wheels to clean and paint them. Local Indy took less than five mins to remove all four using a tool that anyone can buy which basically grabs the nut and wrenches it off, obviously wrecking the bolts in the process. Just have five plain bolts on each wheel now but the wheels are not desirable for the tea leafs.
Just glad I found out when I did not on a pi$$ing wet night at four in the morning on way to airport.
Found three months later when tried to remove wheels to clean and paint them. Local Indy took less than five mins to remove all four using a tool that anyone can buy which basically grabs the nut and wrenches it off, obviously wrecking the bolts in the process. Just have five plain bolts on each wheel now but the wheels are not desirable for the tea leafs.
Just glad I found out when I did not on a pi$$ing wet night at four in the morning on way to airport.
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