Cars of various sizes and forms, from luxurious SUVs to small superminis and family hatchbacks, frequently use alloy wheels. These fashionable wheels are a popular target for thieves, though. Car manufacturers have created locking wheel nuts, also called alloy wheel nuts or lug nuts, to address this problem. These particular nuts provide your priceless wheels an extra degree of security by requiring a specific key to be removed.
Locking wheel nuts: What Are They?
Hexagonal standard bolts and nuts are not the same as locking wheel nuts. A particular shaped socket made to fit the specific pattern of your locking wheel nuts is included with them as a locking wheel nut “key.” One matching key usually comes with a set of four locking wheel nuts. It is conceivable for other drivers to have matching keys even if manufacturers only employ a few number of patterns, however this is not very common.
You may easily get a set of locking wheel nuts from the manufacturer, auto accessories stores, or internet vendors if your car didn’t come with them. It’s simple to install these nuts: just swap out one standard wheel nut with a locking nut on each wheel. This easy-to-implement step greatly lowers the likelihood of wheel theft events by acting as a strong deterrent against theft.
Types of Locking Wheel Nuts
Locking wheel nuts come in various designs, each providing different levels of security:
- The most basic and widely used sort of wheel nuts are called keyed head nuts. They have a keyed head that needs to be removed using a corresponding socket.
- Wheel nuts with rotating collars: These nuts have a spinning collar surrounding the nut, which makes it challenging to grasp the nut without the right key.
- Shear Head Wheel Bolts: Located on vehicles with detachable wheel bolts, these bolts are made with a head that is intended to shear off if the wrong key is tried to remove it.
Where to Find Your Locking Wheel Nut Key
If you haven’t used your locking wheel nut key since purchasing your car, it’s likely stored in one of several common places:
- The glove box: The key is frequently kept there by manufacturers.
- Under the Boot Floor: The key may be in a compartment containing the spare wheel if your automobile has one.
- Cars with storage compartments on the sides of the boot are commonly utilised to store extra lights and the key for locking wheel nuts.
- beneath the Seats or in the Door Bins: It’s a good idea to look in the door bins, seat pockets, and beneath the seats as well.
It’s possible that the previous owner of the used car you purchased misplaced the key. Fortunately, tyre shops and breakdown services can easily remove a locking wheel nut without the key if they have the necessary tools.
Removing a Locking Wheel Nut Without the Key
Without a key, locking wheel nuts can be removed with universal do-it-yourself tools, but they might not always work and need some trust. To undo a wheel nut, for instance, Halfords supplies a unique socket with a reverse thread that bites into the nut and grips it firmly. But for optimal results, use this instrument in conjunction with a pressurised air hammer—a piece of equipment that most people don’t have at home.
Your alloy wheels and the locking wheel nut may get damaged if you try to remove it yourself, which will make professional removal even more difficult and expensive. The ideal approach is to drill out the wheel nut; this can be accomplished by a skilled do-it-yourselfer, but a professional mechanic is usually the best person to perform this.
The majority of garages are equipped and knowledgeable enough to remove a locking wheel nut without the key. The price for this service varies and is usually billed on an hourly basis. You should budget for a fee that is about equal to 30 minutes of labour per wheel. Higher removal fees are to be expected if your do-it-yourself attempt damages the wheel nut or your alloys.
Replacing Your Locking Wheel Nut Key
It’s simple to get a replacement locking wheel nut key from your neighbourhood dealer if you misplaced or broke your original one. You will require a security code, which can be obtained on a separate card together with your car’s radio code, on the locking wheel nut box, or in your car’s handbook. If you are unable to locate the code, some companies may be able to identify your key pattern from a picture of your wheel nut; however, you will need to present identification of the vehicle, such as a picture of your V5C logbook.
Conclusion
Your alloy wheels can be effectively secured against theft with locking wheel nuts. You can make sure your wheels stay secure by being aware of the different kinds, knowing where to look for your key, and knowing what to do in the event that it becomes broken or lost. Recall that getting expert assistance when necessary can help you avoid wasting time, money, or trouble.
