Do you have wheel locks? Are they necessary?

cooljw · 05-23-2006, 07:32 PM

Title of this post says it all.

Trying to decide whether or not to consider buying from a dealer that adds wheel locks to all their Prius (and charges extra for it).

TheForce · 05-23-2006, 07:51 PM

I was going to get them but then I got to thinking. Who is going to steal Prius wheels? I don't think they have enough bling value to them to be stealable. Also you have to "unlock" your wheel when you need to change it. If you lose the key your screwed. I would not reccomend getting them.

With my mod I don't think anyone would want to steal my wheels anyway.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...l=racing+hubcap

Charles Suitt · 05-23-2006, 08:04 PM

<_< Actually, I'm pleased to have "wheel locks" - basically a set of four "keyed" lug nuts requiring a overlaid "key" to loosen. Actually, a really determined thief could remove these lug nuts with an adequate wrench... as in a chop shop.

Even Prius alloy wheels have value and can be sold on the illegal markets. It is a minor inconvenience to provide the "key" when you have your tires rotated, repaired or replaced, but no big deal. Just be SURE to keep track of the "key" and not lose track of it in having your car or tires serviced.

galaxee · 05-23-2006, 08:18 PM

locking lugs are the most obnoxious thing a tech will run across. they hate it. plus, one who doesn't know what he's doing can totally FUBAR your wheel or stud, causing major inconvenience over just having regular lugs.

and they're not worth much, (especially considering what they charge!) there are plenty of ways to get your wheels if someone really REALLY wants them...

but that raises the question, does anyone want prius wheels? probably not.

**Tideland Prius** · 05-23-2006, 11:24 PM

well, whether they want it or not, alloy wheels are expensive. Heck, the Prius "Euro" 16" wheels are US$1,400 at Sigma without the tyres for a set of 4.

ntender · 05-24-2006, 12:26 AM

I am definitely getting wheel locks for my new Prius. I had a really bad experience when the wheels were stolen off of my previous car (1995 Pontiac Grand Prix). I was traumetized to find the car sitting on the ground without wheels, literally supported by the rotors. It took 3 weeks for me to get my car back because they had to order the wheels and some of the other parts from Michigan and do some body repair work. Total cost was over $3000!
I can't understand why anyone would steal the factory wheels, even if they are alloy wheels. They don't seem to be anything special to me. But I learned the hard way that people will steal just about anything.

So I strongly recommend the wheel locks. It is a very minor inconvenience to hand the key to the mechanic when you are having your tires rotated.

aaf709 · 05-24-2006, 12:31 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ May 23 2006, 05:18 PM) [snapback]260010[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

locking lugs are the most obnoxious thing a tech will run across. they hate it. plus, one who doesn't know what he's doing can totally FUBAR your wheel or stud, causing major inconvenience over just having regular lugs.
[/b]

Actually what happened to me (not on the Prius, but my last car) was that they really messed up the key. I was able to contact the company that made the lock and got them to send a replacement key, but there was several days where I was worried about getting a flat.

gordonr · 05-24-2006, 12:54 AM

The wheels may not be worth enough to warrant locks, but what about those tire pressure transmitters on the '06?

bsd43 · 05-24-2006, 12:07 PM

My old car had wheel locks. When doing my own tire rotations, I found one of the "locks" rounded off and couldn't get it off. The shop that screwed it up had to jam a socket in and impact-wrench it off. I couldn't imagine trying to get it off myself if I had a flat on the side of a freeway, so I replaced them with regular nuts.

Nobody's gonna steal factory rims anyway, unless they're the bling bling Cadillac Escalade Ludacris-signature ones...

NoVaSnow · 05-24-2006, 12:15 PM

Miller Toyota, Manassas, VA, gets all their Prii with the wheel locks. I wasn't going to argue about the $59 charge. Besides, my wife actually believes they will stop somebody from stealing the wheels.

Question: Anybody know how many different keys there are for these locks? I can't imagine there are that many. An enterprising thief could get a hold of a key and try it on Prii until it works.

05-23-2006, 08:04 PM	#3
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	<_< Actually, I'm pleased to have "wheel locks" - basically a set of four "keyed" lug nuts requiring a overlaid "key" to loosen. Actually, a really determined thief could remove these lug nuts with an adequate wrench... as in a chop shop. Even Prius alloy wheels have value and can be sold on the illegal markets. It is a minor inconvenience to provide the "key" when you have your tires rotated, repaired or replaced, but no big deal. Just be SURE to keep track of the "key" and not lose track of it in having your car or tires serviced. __________________ Charles Suitt Dallas Texas 2007 Touring Edition (Former Prius: 2004)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lug nuts/wheel locks	B Rad	Prius Modifications	2	04-15-2007 09:13 PM
Wheel Locks	Warwind	Prius Main Forum	6	11-17-2006 09:37 AM
Wheel lug locks	rodcma	Prius Main Forum	9	11-18-2005 11:53 PM
wheel locks	fortheanimals	Prius Main Forum	3	08-17-2005 11:29 AM
2004 Prius Wheel Locks	MSmith	Prius Main Forum	2	04-04-2004 12:35 AM

05-23-2006, 07:32 PM	#1
cooljw Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 42 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Title of this post says it all. Trying to decide whether or not to consider buying from a dealer that adds wheel locks to all their Prius (and charges extra for it).

05-23-2006, 07:51 PM	#2
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,103 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 7 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	I was going to get them but then I got to thinking. Who is going to steal Prius wheels? I don't think they have enough bling value to them to be stealable. Also you have to "unlock" your wheel when you need to change it. If you lose the key your screwed. I would not reccomend getting them. With my mod I don't think anyone would want to steal my wheels anyway. http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...l=racing+hubcap

05-23-2006, 08:18 PM	#4
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,030 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	locking lugs are the most obnoxious thing a tech will run across. they hate it. plus, one who doesn't know what he's doing can totally FUBAR your wheel or stud, causing major inconvenience over just having regular lugs. and they're not worth much, (especially considering what they charge!) there are plenty of ways to get your wheels if someone really REALLY wants them... but that raises the question, does anyone want prius wheels? probably not.

05-23-2006, 11:24 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,769 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	well, whether they want it or not, alloy wheels are expensive. Heck, the Prius "Euro" 16" wheels are US$1,400 at Sigma without the tyres for a set of 4.

05-24-2006, 12:26 AM	#6
ntender Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington, D.C. area Posts: 18 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I am definitely getting wheel locks for my new Prius. I had a really bad experience when the wheels were stolen off of my previous car (1995 Pontiac Grand Prix). I was traumetized to find the car sitting on the ground without wheels, literally supported by the rotors. It took 3 weeks for me to get my car back because they had to order the wheels and some of the other parts from Michigan and do some body repair work. Total cost was over $3000! I can't understand why anyone would steal the factory wheels, even if they are alloy wheels. They don't seem to be anything special to me. But I learned the hard way that people will steal just about anything. So I strongly recommend the wheel locks. It is a very minor inconvenience to hand the key to the mechanic when you are having your tires rotated.

05-24-2006, 12:54 AM	#8
gordonr Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 97 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The wheels may not be worth enough to warrant locks, but what about those tire pressure transmitters on the '06?

05-24-2006, 12:07 PM	#9
bsd43 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 105 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My old car had wheel locks. When doing my own tire rotations, I found one of the "locks" rounded off and couldn't get it off. The shop that screwed it up had to jam a socket in and impact-wrench it off. I couldn't imagine trying to get it off myself if I had a flat on the side of a freeway, so I replaced them with regular nuts. Nobody's gonna steal factory rims anyway, unless they're the bling bling Cadillac Escalade Ludacris-signature ones...

05-24-2006, 12:15 PM	#10
NoVaSnow Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 147 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Miller Toyota, Manassas, VA, gets all their Prii with the wheel locks. I wasn't going to argue about the $59 charge. Besides, my wife actually believes they will stop somebody from stealing the wheels. Question: Anybody know how many different keys there are for these locks? I can't imagine there are that many. An enterprising thief could get a hold of a key and try it on Prii until it works.