The "Locking Lugnut", really, do we need them?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 1
From: MA
The "Locking Lugnut", really, do we need them?
I wonder if I bought a set of 4, or just 4 lugnuts to replace the locked one, if I'd have to worry about my wheels getting stolen, ha! LOL!
How many have had a set, or A wheel stolen from their Corvette that GM decided that the cars should come with wheel locks. My wife has wheel locks on her 2006 RAV4 and they are just "Styled" Steel Wheels, hardly worth looking at, never mind taking.
Anyone replaced their locking lugnut for a regular one when you have the stock/OEM wheels on?
And the "Theftlock" Stereo, I'm fairly sure I could take the stereo out of the car and leave it on any sidewalk in any city in the USA and it would not get taken but that is another thread.
How many have had a set, or A wheel stolen from their Corvette that GM decided that the cars should come with wheel locks. My wife has wheel locks on her 2006 RAV4 and they are just "Styled" Steel Wheels, hardly worth looking at, never mind taking.
Anyone replaced their locking lugnut for a regular one when you have the stock/OEM wheels on?
And the "Theftlock" Stereo, I'm fairly sure I could take the stereo out of the car and leave it on any sidewalk in any city in the USA and it would not get taken but that is another thread.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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anything to slow 'em down....I have seen plenty of cars on the ground for stock wheels
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
When I bought my wheels they came with locks so I have them, I never really thought about it, That is why I have insurance so I can sleep at night...lol
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Fill out your profile so we know where the safest city is...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,048
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From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Same here
I knew someone that had an attempted "wheels theft" and he had the locking nuts on his Vette and the thief got pissed because he couldn't get the locking nuts off so he forked up the rest of the Vette...smashed windshield, totally keyed all panels , etc...so I would rather make a thief happy if he stole my wheels than mess up the rest of my car...just a thought
I knew someone that had an attempted "wheels theft" and he had the locking nuts on his Vette and the thief got pissed because he couldn't get the locking nuts off so he forked up the rest of the Vette...smashed windshield, totally keyed all panels , etc...so I would rather make a thief happy if he stole my wheels than mess up the rest of my car...just a thought
Last edited by Yello95; Nov 15, 2009 at 01:37 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
No locking lugs, but I have crappy aftermarket chromies (on the car when I got it, and if they disappeared, it would make me move my butt and replace them like I want to 
), and I can pretty much leave it running when I go in to buy a cup of coffee (very little crime where I live).
If I had a $5000 set of wheels on it, Id probably have three locking lugs on each wheel
(thats a joke).
All Im saying is it probably boils down to, where you live, where you park and how often you leave the car unattended.
For me, not an issue.
), and I can pretty much leave it running when I go in to buy a cup of coffee (very little crime where I live).If I had a $5000 set of wheels on it, Id probably have three locking lugs on each wheel
(thats a joke).All Im saying is it probably boils down to, where you live, where you park and how often you leave the car unattended.
For me, not an issue.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
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From: Midland TX
Not paranoid here... replaced all 20 of my lugs with Gorilla Locks - they look better to me, 20 less operations than removing the plastic stock lug caps and any wheel thief driving by might just move on to the next Corvette without locks - path of least resistance.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Oz
If I got my OEM thinspokes stolen off the car, I think I'd probably be more pissed about the potential damage tot he bodywork from them trying to jack up a lowered car than I would be about the missing wheels. My stock wheels are a dime a dozen (although you wouldn't know that from trying to buy a set!). Just don't hurt my car.
And, no, I don't have wheel locks. I have a garage and I never take the car anywhere I think it might get hurt (unless you count the track).
And, no, I don't have wheel locks. I have a garage and I never take the car anywhere I think it might get hurt (unless you count the track).
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,365
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From: Vancouver BC
My Vette is so low down, it takes me a long time to jack up the car to change my tires..that is in my garage, with ramps and and all...better than lock nuts And I always park in my garage overnight...that helps too. 
Indy
And I always park in my garage overnight...that helps too. Indy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,411
Likes: 3
From: slidell louisiana
good question, do not like the look of the lock lug, if you travel to car shows can be a good piece of mind addition, even though wheels are insured , would be a pain on a sunday morning trying to fine wheels and tires for a vette and make it home 300 miles away, better safe than sorry IMO
Come to think of it, I believe I've had them on every car I've owned. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
While I keep my Vette in the garage, I've got i-Forged wheels and do take overnight trips in my C5 so I thinking locking nuts are worth it.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
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From: CA
When I had my '90 ZR1 I had thieves try to remove one rear wheel. We were overnight in Santa Rosa at a less than premium motel. They did not get the locking lug nut off and I didn't lose the wheel. I did start off the next morning not realizing I had only one lug nut on the wheel. I drove about 5 miles and started to hear a clicking sound from that wheel. Pulled over and found the problem. I removed one lug nut from the other three wheels and installed them and went on home.
No damage to the wheel, both at the lugnut bearing area or the back of the loosened wheel. Allways thanked GM for over engineering their wheel studs.
No damage to the wheel, both at the lugnut bearing area or the back of the loosened wheel. Allways thanked GM for over engineering their wheel studs.