Anti-theft lug nuts, do you use them?

[Elkins45]

Do you have anti-theft nuts on your wheels? Any problems with them? I’ve never bothered but I’m wondering if maybe I’ve just been lucky. I’m specifically thinking about them for my truck because it often gets parked at remote boat ramps for several days at a time, and those tires/wheels are darned expensive.

 

[spasm3]

They were on my Mazda when we got it. I ordered 4 standard lugnuts , took them off the first month we had it.

 

[The_Jeff]

Yup, a cheapo knockoff McGard style set where all six "flourettes" are the same dimensions. So they're all keyed alike if you can figure out the brand. Might keep the casual thief stymied.

 

[GRjdm]

i use advanced wheel lock. Not cheap, but more secure than McGard style wheel locks.

 

[Hirev]

Around here they just steal your vehicle don't see the point.

 

[GSCJR]

I took mine off, it's more of a hassle. Who wants my old wheels anyways?

 

[BrendanC]

i have 3 different sets of locking lug nuts on my truck with one being a gorilla type that have a loose outer collar that requires the correct key to spline into the fixed portion. no type of socket is going to grip them that will fit in the bore of my wheels. for reference, i have forged 22x14” american force wheels in houston. going on 7 years without incident. they did try to steal the whole truck from the collage parking lot only to find i reinforced my door handles with a steel plate, eliminated the lock cylinders with stainless carriage bolts and have an alarm system.

 

[UncleDave]

Do you have anti-theft nuts on your wheels? Any problems with them? I’ve never bothered but I’m wondering if maybe I’ve just been lucky. I’m specifically thinking about them for my truck because it often gets parked at remote boat ramps for several days at a time, and those tires/wheels are darned expensive.

I "use them" right up until my first rotation then I take them off and put them in a bag for the next owner when I sell the car.

If I had anything other than the stock tires and wheels id probably leave them on.

 

[4wd]

I have them on all vehicles - works like the ant stuff - just trying to get them to move to someone else

 

[lilspenny]

Do you have anti-theft nuts on your wheels? Any problems with them? I’ve never bothered but I’m wondering if maybe I’ve just been lucky. I’m specifically thinking about them for my truck because it often gets parked at remote boat ramps for several days at a time, and those tires/wheels are darned expensive.

I have them. My tire store hates them because they break from time to time and also get lost. They are great in Puerto Rico.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Depends which hood you live in.

 

[E150GT]

Nobody wants my wheels

 

[Jay73]

When I lived in Chicago yeah. Now that I've moved to the NW suburbs probably doesn't matter as much. If somebody want's your rims/tires they'll get them so it's more of providing a delay or hassle to where maybe they move on instead. Currently just have spline type lugs but if I was still in the city I would probably have something stronger.

 

[samven]

Mine came from the factory with wheel locks. Looking at them I figure I could get them off with a stripped nut socket so when I did my first tire rotation I put the standards back on, lucky me they put the removed lugs in the glove box. I just did not like locking those squiggles togather and then hitting them with the impact driver, felt like I was asking to strip them off. If it happened at home it would not be an issue but if it happened on the side of the road it could cost me big in tow fees.

 

[dubber09]

Imho, there is a saying - 'if there is a will, there is a way' - if one has high value rims, they can be stolen given availability and time (access). If you have expensive (high value) rims (and tires) - keep the car garaged with security measures.
'Security' lug nuts/bolts will not prevent theft if someone wants them.

 

[marc1]

Do you have anti-theft nuts on your wheels? Any problems with them?

I do on my Tacoma, they were on the truck from new. I have had no problems with them, they are a good brand (McGard). However, I wish I had noticed this when I bought the truck, I would have asked the dealer to remove them and put a normal lug nut back on. I am not a fan, the risk (losing the key, stripping the puzzle, etc.) does not outweigh the reward in my opinion for my case. My wheels are stock Toyota aluminum nothing fancy, doubtful they are of interest to a thief. But, since they are there, it has been 8 years... I am not changing anything now.

 

[Donald64]

I took mine off, it's more of a hassle. Who wants my old wheels anyways?

Your post reminded me of this urban myth (?) tale:
I sold my car and gave the new owner the four winter tires/wheels.
After a few weeks it was obvious that new owner wasn't going to come back to collect them, so I put them at the end of the drive with a sign "These fit a Renault Clio Dacia or Nissan Micra. Free"
And there they remained. My neighbour's advice was to replace "Free" with $75 or offers"
They were stolen within the hour.

Re wheel nuts: Honda CRV and the owner spent $85 on a set of four anti-theft nuts and special tool. Only six months old and they couldn't take the manufacturer's tightening torque. Three broke.
Owner: "Couldn't you have not tightened them so much?" He loves to talk in double negatives...

Me: "No, I tightened them to what the instructions said" End of story. There can be no example where I would leave a wheel nut loose to compensate for poor design or dodgy metal.

In my experience, only the one time have I come across stolen wheels. It was on a nearly new Datsun Cherry. A hire car too and his neighbours were apparently jealous of "his" new motor. The vandalism to the rest of the car made the stolen wheels a minor side story.

So they are generally speaking not worth the outlay or bother?

 

[charbaby]

I've had McGard on a LEXUS that came with them. And on a set of aftermarket wheels that I purchased for another vehicle that came with GORILLA Lug Nuts w/Key. I don't currently have locks on my wheels(not advertising) but, the only thing I can say is that wheels locks will only slow down a thief and if they want something, they're going to take it! Most likely the whole vehicle.

 

[Zee09]

When I bought my Maverick every new car at the dealership had them and the reason was to limit dealer lot theft... Made sense.

 

[henni]

Around here they just steal your vehicle don't see the point.

Which is why we have an IGLA installed on all our cars. Steering wheel, dash, door, any buttons user selects to be pressed in programmed sequence, ignition will not even come on and transmission remains locked. Even if thief has the fob -- car simply will not start.