Locking my Wheels/Tires from Thieves

Mytoy4

Mytoy4

New member
I was shown this news article this morning and it concerns me.

Tire Thieves Strike Again In West Omaha

I didn't really know what a locking lug was until I delivered [MENTION=84680]wadle5[/MENTION] wheels to him.
I don't normally leave my 4Runner out overnight but there are times where I do. I love my wheels and tires and don't want them taken from me.

Can you purchase these locking lugs? Pros/cons?
 
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i feel like locking lug nuts are much like alarms. Only useful for the honest ones. If they want it, theyll pound a socket over the locking lug nut and take your wheels regardless.

Having said that, i have them on mine, just a mental security, even if they really dont bring much to the table as in real security.
 
Mytoy4 said:
I was shown this news article this morning and it concerns me.

Tire Thieves Strike Again In West Omaha


Can you purchase these locking lugs? Pros/cons?
Click to expand...

LTDSC said:
i feel like locking lug nuts are much like alarms. ... even if they really dont bring much to the table as in real security.
Click to expand...

I really didn't think stuff like this happened anymore. :shrug:

I think [MENTION=87687]LTDSC[/MENTION] hit the nail on the head.
So when I was doing my lift, I had the genuine OEM toyota locks on my wheels. And my key was all screwed up. With an impact wrench and 5 minutes of creative socket placement, I was able to get all 4 wheels off.

Supposedly these:
GatorGripEtc125Socket3.jpg

can get off pretty much anything.

I know the ATX wheels have basically a big torx bit lug instead of a traditional socket.

I dunno, I think the key is just safe parking, but i guess it can happen anywhere. I work in really bad areas of DC every day and I've never had an issue with my truck and I feel like its somewhat of a target. I just park near other cars, don't leave anything in the truck etc...
 
LTDSC said:
i feel like locking lug nuts are much like alarms. Only useful for the honest ones. If they want it, theyll pound a socket over the locking lug nut and take your wheels regardless.

Having said that, i have them on mine, just a mental security, even if they really dont bring much to the table as in real security.
Click to expand...

Exactly, though I got the gorilla wheel locks that have the spinning sleeve to at least slow them down.


zopperman said:
I really didn't think stuff like this happened anymore. :shrug:

I think [MENTION=87687]LTDSC[/MENTION] hit the nail on the head.
So when I was doing my lift, I had the genuine OEM toyota locks on my wheels. And my key was all screwed up. With an impact wrench and 5 minutes of creative socket placement, I was able to get all 4 wheels off.

Supposedly these:
GatorGripEtc125Socket3.jpg

can get off pretty much anything.

I know the ATX wheels have basically a big torx bit lug instead of a traditional socket.

I dunno, I think the key is just safe parking, but i guess it can happen anywhere. I work in really bad areas of DC every day and I've never had an issue with my truck and I feel like its somewhat of a target. I just park near other cars, don't leave anything in the truck etc...
Click to expand...

Yep, dozens of videos on youtube showing the same. You can get a proximity sensor for your alarm but if they really want your wheels, they will do whatever to get them.
 
What Ive done in the past, mainly with my old acura's wheels that were worth more than the car, was to buy 4 sets of wheel locks and use one of each pattern on the wheels. That way thieves would have to take a decent amount of time steal it, and increase the chances of me or someone else seeing them. Its not fool proof, as said before, if they want them, theyll take them, but you can definitely make it harder, and if your lucky, not worth stealing at all.
 
Not what I wanted to hear. [MENTION=87687]LTDSC[/MENTION] is right, in most cases you don't hear what's going on outside. My bedroom is upstairs against the back of the house. My darn dog doesn't even hear anything :) He's old though, so I'll let it slide.

I guess I'll just be cautious and ensure it's in the garage. People suck!
 
I've run the locks on multiple vehicles before and like most have said - it's only a small deterence and it's not worth the hassle of carrying around a key for the lock, etc.

In my personal experience, the locking lugs aren't as strong and I sheared off a locking lug head that came on my 4Runner when I bought it. Since then I haven't used them.

Could always rig up one of these to pop out if anyone goes for the wheels!

James-Bond-Aston-Martin-DB5-Spinner.jpg
 
I think the Gorilla locks are good because they grip towards the outside of the nut, which is stronger. All the ones at my local parts stores are the same brand and they grip more in the middle which makes them much easier to strip out the key feature. Add to that low grade steel and you have big problems.
 
Go with a name brand lock and hope for the best. GM OEM 20s seem to be the target around here along with Toyota catalytic converters.

OP- love what you have done with your 4runner BTW.
 
Mytoy4 said:
I guess I'll just be cautious and ensure it's in the garage. People suck!
Click to expand...

Yes, people suck, the best thing you can do like you said is keep the truck locked away in the garage, however that's not even fool proof as I had punk kids try to break INTO my garage about 10 days before Christmas a few years ago... :rolleyes:
 
Like most people have mentioned - if they want them bad enough, they're going to get them, even if that means car-jacking you. However, most wheel thieves & car vandals are cowardly opportunists.

A set of wheel locks (no matter how cheap) will be enough to convince them to move on to the next car. The slightest difficulty or perceived threat of being caught will make 99.99% of them scurry away in a hurry.
 
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