Tip of the Week: Locking lug nuts

When it comes locking lug nuts, Motoring TV resident mechanic has some simple advice: Skip 'em.
Unless you've got expensive wheels and tires on your vehicle, or winter tires in a market like Quebec, locking lug nuts are often more trouble than they're worth.
(This segment originally appeared on Episode 20 of Motoring 2015.)
**Watch full episodes of Motoring TV at MotoringTV.com**

[@HitsongcasaVideos4U]

Took my Toyota Tacoma in for service which was to rotate tires at 15000 mile checkup. (Been driving it three years.) The dealership could not rotate the tires because no wheel lock key in my truck. I only received two ignition keys at purchase three years ago. Did not even know what a wheel lock key was until this appointment. I had to order wheel lock key from the I.D. Lock Info card with my purchase package. One mechanic said to order a dozen of those. Another mechanic suggested changing those tires wheel locks out to regular lug nuts. ( I guessed they were joking.) First I had to order the wheel lock key to even get the tires off in the first place. I am eighty years old and do not want to have to keep up with some tiny item required to change a tire should I need one changed somewhere on the road or in a strange town. If a dealership could not remove a tire without a special tiny wheel lock key because they couldn't find one for it, how is anyone supposed to have one handy just for my vehicle. Once I get these wheels off, I am switching to regular lug nuts if that is a possibility to do so.

[@MegaRcdrifter]

"An OE wheel and a OE wheel package isn't something that they would take" LOL THIS GUY 😂😂😂 You're one hilarious dude. Do you know much new wheels cost on a new car??

[@Sc-ld7os]

Maybe in his neighborhood lmao

[@midnightrunners1470]

Lmao even economy cars come witrh $250 rims

[@JoelSwensenM]

@@Sc-ld7os Right? Someone just jacked my friend's Kia tires. Just the two curb side ones. Left the car in the air too lol

[@tokobjork]

Just get an extra locking key you hide somewhere in the car:

[@shadowfire115]

That's something a wheel thief would say!

[@christopherwarsh]

No one will steal your tires? You don’t live in my neighborhood....

[@MrClyde2021]

Lmaoo 😂🤣😅

[@francisschuessler]

“People won’t jack the car up to take the tires.” As someone who literally last week had all four of my tires stolen and my car was left sitting on cylinder blocks , I’d say this is worth it…

[@phenamenol]

Solid advice ...but in some countries or in certain areas of some countries tyres and rims theft is an issue ...so you have to be in the know ..that aside when I go in to have work done that require removal of the wheels I usually remove the lock nuts myself from all four wheels and place them in the glove compartment then put them back on later it might not work for everyone it does for me ...nam jamaica

[@BruceGinkel]

THis is the perfect business case of "it's not a bug' its a feature"

[@del7i540]

Says the mechanic (?) with the POS KIA?! I'll take my chances remembering my locking lug key.

[@Ricky-nc2tt]

Yeah, well, my OEM shitty STEEL wheels were just stolen off my Honda Civic. They also bent the rocker where they jacked it in the middle instead of near a hard point.

[@bythedog]

Thank you!

[@nofantasyman]

My only concern is in my exterior mounted spare tire on jeep. But the same problem with not having the key presents the same risk. But thanks for helping me think about it.

[@SquawkCode]

I agree. More trouble than they're worth.

[@JoelSwensenM]

This man has obviously never lived here in Portland lol

[@davewilson3360]

there are idiots out there that loosen lug nuts on vehicles also a factory rim is worth twice the money as a custom wheel to replace my advice the locking nuts are worth the investment even OEM wheels come with just make sure you know where the key is.

[@nofantasyman]

Makes a lot of sense. Thanks

[@siriusblack7714]

I have the fuxing key and its not fuxing loosening the fuxing bolt

[@BruceGinkel]

plus the logic of keeping the lug nut key in the glove box for even easier theft, these things just don't make any sense

[@colinwoods8430]

50$ tool and would take all of about an extra 2 minutes to take it off. Your only stopping lazy theifs

[@zenunderhill5278]

An extra two minutes is all I need. They either need to drill(I park it right outside my window) or hammer a socket onto it to get it off which could damage the tool and crack my carbon fiber rims and deter them from continuing or even starting.

[@terry7893]

Great video! Excellent advice!

[@justinclick6608]

Not trying to be a dickhead or anything but people steal rims and tires in my apartment complex four times a month.

[@davidcarter3939]

My tires got stolen and they weren’t even that expensive so this theory is just that….a theory

[@miragexl007]

Exactly. Bought a 93 Mustang. Took it in to have new tires. Has a locking lugnut. Ugh. And I have no key.. I said just get it off Anyway you know how. and replace the lug nut. It's under a cap anyway. Let's curious how those locking lug nuts work.Why people have a man unless their tires are like millions of dollars et cetera?

[@potatosalad9519]

I don't agree.

[@etchosts8162]

Keep the key on you at all times dont leave in car.

[@Mariazellerbahn]

Just remove the locking lug nut on the wheel you'll most likely get a puncture.

[@terrythurston8572]

Sound advice.

[@xiokraze]

This is the same as saying that since you can lose the key to your house you shouldn't lock it. Wtf.. lol

[@---cr8nw]

Has anyone every jacked up your car and stolen the wheels? Do you personally know anyone that it's happened to? It's just not common crime in the U.S. Also, the value of wheels and rims are generally pretty low (under 3k in total, if stock). If someone breaks into your house, they have access to ten of thousands of dollars worth of stuff AND probably the ability to steal your identity for even more gain. You're comparing apples and floppy disks.

[@rickytrevino8281]

Maybe its not common in your lil fancy white neighborhood, I see people patroling streets and parking lots on the regular just for it though

[@rickytrevino8281]

@Gossip Heart What is your point? It seems you took the context out my comment and tried using it as an excuse to start bitching

[@steveo782812]

-- my brother once had an old Honda Accord parked in a parking garage. Someone jacked up one wheel and took his wheel. I don’t know if they were f-ing with him or needed the wheel and tire, but they took it and left it on blocks. Still sucks to have to deal with and that was a base model wheel. I think this guy is over playing the complications of having wheel locks.

[@k.murray7]

My neighbor keeps loosening my lug nuts.. now my wheel ball joint broke off... that's right my passenger side front wheel broke off . I need to do something just short of .....

[@swide2750]

the lug socket is in the car because i double checked

[@BlackyBrownDestruction9337]

My tip of the week... Get an extractor

[@jimreece7615]

Locking wheel nuts on a Kia, what next padlocks for the wiper blades!

[@lalonguecarabine4952]

All the salty people from Chicago in the comments 🤣

[@717sport]

How the HELL can you tell people they are not worth it?. Probably, you have never had your $4000.00 worth of wheels and tires stolen. Anyone can buy a lug wrench, but the right lug nut key?, NO WAY.

[@viivcreations9161]

locking lugs only stops an honest theif.

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

Honest Thieves are specialists!

[@charlies.5777]

Oxymoron.

[@jayfitz2231]

I’m missing 3 lug nuts on my car

[@darrinsteven7002]

Don't worry about it until you are missing 4 or 5.

[@TheChrismsanchez1]

This guy isn't using much common sense. First...if you take your car in for service. You can / should exchange the locking lug nut with the original nut BEFORE you leave home. Then swap them back once you return home. You do not need to lift the car to swap one lug nut. Second...order spare keys as soon as you put the locks on your car. Plan ahead! Don't wait til you need it. Third...use common sense, if you think you need locking lug nuts, then you probably do. Buy a set that you have researched to be the best style for your application. Fourth...enjoy life! This guy sounds a bit irritated. Cheers!🍻

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

23.2k people will not get their 2:35 back. I recommend dont buy cars with those annoying engines that have thousands of parts that are nothing but trouble... get a bicycle. Seriously, a video about locking lug nuts should be informative. This one could have covered a lot. Mr TV... have you ever lived in an urban area, or parked in a downtown lot? Tires dissapear!

[@phillipthomas5133]

Or you could be smart and keep the lug nut key in your glove compartment and if you take the car to a shop just remove the locking lug nut before going to the shop 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lalonguecarabine4952]

Then how does the shop take your tires off Einstein?

[@rogueuniversities6866]

@@lalonguecarabine4952 Did he say "car shop"? No, he did not

[@lalonguecarabine4952]

@@rogueuniversities6866 Umm, whilst I see I did miss his point, he most definitely said "car" and "shop" twice, in fact. Yes, he did.

[@lalonguecarabine4952]

@@rogueuniversities6866 Or do you think he was referring to a vape shop?

[@rogueuniversities6866]

@@lalonguecarabine4952 He could have been referring to any type of shop

[@maxxmasson4263]

Bad tip this guy does not live in the real world

[@danieldeanda5816]

Cringe. Here's a tip for ya, if you live in a Democrat city keep them on.