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A few weeks back I ordered 4 new Pilot A/S 3+ tires (not through a dealer) for my 2019 GS. They came in so I made an appointment (with a reputable tire shop) to have them mounted balanced etc. About 2 hours after I dropped the car off I get a call letting me know they didn't even try to take the wheels off since the lock key was destroyed. The lock set was ordered with the car. Only myself and 1 dealer have taken the wheels off the car and I don't use an impact wrench. I called the dealer and talked with the service department. I was told his guys are very careful with the lug nuts. The pictures below are the results of "being careful". The key is destroyed but the locking nuts are not even scratched. Luckily, McGard is replacing the key for $14.99 which I will get back when I ship the destroyed key back to them. When I get the new key, the original lug nuts are going back on the car.
Wheel locks are more of a PITA to me than the guy trying to take my wheels. If they know what they are doing, my wheels are gone in 2 minutes. Screw wheel locks, why harass the thieves when the wheels are gone with locks or without.
My auto body man showed me once how worthless all wheel locks are. He would get cars in all time where the key was lost or broke. He took a large vise grip, clamped it on the lock lug and had no prob removing the lug. How many theives do you think know this? Forget the lock lugs......they only give you grief.
I've had wheel locks on several cars and removed them as a PITA.
I've currently got them on my C7, a little something extra from the dealer, well meant but not a great idea as others have suggested. Whenever I need to change tires I will have them replaced with the standard lug nuts.
Oh, BTW a lot of dealers put wheel locks on cars left in their lots to discourage the events when thieves come in and remove a whole lot of wheels at once.
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Haven’t used wheel locks since my C4 days if I recall correctly. Sure not worth the trouble if you run into a problem getting one or more of the locks removed.
I've got the locking lugs on mine, came with the car. Just purchased new wheels and the shop doing the mount/balance/install is telling me I should use the skinnier spline-drive lug nuts since the aftermarket rims sometimes have less room around the lugs for careless airtool operators. The spline requires a "key" of sorts since a typical wrench won't work. Anyone using those?
If the wheel thieves knew of the terrible stock wheels that come on the GS,Z06 and ZR1 we would not need lock nuts, they would not steal them ! Get the word out !!
If the wheel thieves knew of the terrible stock wheels that come on the GS,Z06 and ZR1 we would not need lock nuts, they would not steal them ! Get the word out !!
My C6 had them on there; I assume dealer installed since I was the only owner at the time. I lost the key somehow in my move.... took it to my shop to get them off; they did. I'm not sure how, but they said it was a PITA.
I'm another in the camp of "never again/not worth the trouble".
Right, steal the crap wheels, then get a check from the insurance company, then add a few extra dollars to the insurance check and get you a nice set of non-cracking aftermarket replacement wheels.
A few weeks back I ordered 4 new Pilot A/S 3+ tires (not through a dealer) for my 2019 GS. They came in so I made an appointment (with a reputable tire shop) to have them mounted balanced etc. About 2 hours after I dropped the car off I get a call letting me know they didn't even try to take the wheels off since the lock key was destroyed. The lock set was ordered with the car. Only myself and 1 dealer have taken the wheels off the car and I don't use an impact wrench. I called the dealer and talked with the service department. I was told his guys are very careful with the lug nuts. The pictures below are the results of "being careful". The key is destroyed but the locking nuts are not even scratched. Luckily, McGard is replacing the key for $14.99 which I will get back when I ship the destroyed key back to them. When I get the new key, the original lug nuts are going back on the car.
So, if you'd been present for the lug nuts removal, you would have given them supervision that would have prevented this from happening? If yes, why didn't you ensure this by your presence?
I have found that tire/wheel technicians need my direct guidance, or they'll screw up.
I have spline drive lugs on my car because I have aftermarket wheels. Unless a thief has the tool for that specific spline drive lug, he is going to fight with 20 lugs he can't use a socket on instead of 4 lock lugs. I would think he would move on to an easier target.
04-13-2021, 10:24 AM
"My guys are real careful"
