Locking wheel nuts.. Actually worth it??

[rufusgti]

I havn't heard of anyone having their wheels pinched for about 10 years. I'm not sure anyones actually interested in stealing wheels anymore. It's almost as if it were a trend of the early 90's. It doesnt suprise me. The faff of chocking a car up on bricks and the time and risk of unbolting 4 filthy wheels and bundling them into a van. It just doesnt seem worth it.
I'm going to be removing the wheel locks off our cars. There just such a pain in the butt. Carying those chunky wheel nuts around, messing about trying to get them to fit, They look ugly. sometimes the key is a different size bolt to the standard wheel, meaning you need 2 wheel braces. An AA worker once told me he's there his worse nightmare.

So. Am I mad to risk my rubber like this. Or can we now put these revolting and tiresome locking wheel nuts behind us.

[vescaegg]

I went to change a wheel the other day and the only nut I couldn't get off was the locking wheel nut! Good thing having a spare tyre if I can't even get the wheel off! I think when a garage tightens them with their guns they basically become impossible to remove as I have found, unlike normal wheel nuts.

This week I shall get them removed by the same garage that did them up too tight!

[Thin White Duke]

I don't know....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1292675/Be...

[Beyond Rational]

The first part about the reduction in the number of wheels being stolen and the advent of locking wheelnuts might be related, at least invloving opportunist theft.

Secondly, you'd be obliged to ring your insurers and tell them that you have removed a security feature from the car. This will not go well.

[jonno990]

Locking wheel nuts aren't exactly hard to defeat, but I'd be more concerned about the damage to the underside of the car (exhaust/cat,discs) not all thieving scumbags bother with the bricks.
Myself I wouldn't take the chance, best to have a visual deterrent.

[Chiswickboy]

Thin White Duke said:

I don't know....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1292675/Be...

£5000 to replace the wheels?

That price probably does not include the tyres which I heard were £1200 each.

[Thin White Duke]

Chiswickboy said:

£5000 to replace the wheels?

That price probably does not include the tyres which I heard were £1200 each.

£1200 each wouldn't suprise me. You'd think someone with the money for a Bentley would
have the facility to store it, especially if going away on holiday.

[Dog Star]

Like the coded car stereo, locking wheel nuts don't inconvenience the thief at all, only the owner and mechanics. Utter waste of time.

[davepoth]

On a Bentley, I can see why you'd want them. If you'd spent £ '000s on special wheels, I can understand it too. For the standard spec 16" rims on a VAG TDi? Not so sure...