Here's why two keys are a good idea when using wheel locks

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Georgina Rudkus, Nov 19, 2025 at 9:59 AM.

  1. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    A couple of days, ago, I had a blowout on the freeway.

    It's a good thing that I had purchased a second key for my Toyota branded wheel locks.

    Changing the damaged tire with my full size spare was easy.

    Unfortunately, I left the wheel lock key on the lug and drove off.

    WhenI git to the tire store, I looked everywhere inside the car for the key and never found it.

    Realizing this, I remembered that I had put the extra key in the space provided for it in the foam holder for the tire changing tools.

    Now, I will order another replacement key. It will definitely worth the cost.

    Another helpful thing to do is to label the key with;

    Finder please call or text:
    (Your phone number)

    This would help, if the tire shop failed to return the key, or if it was found by a nice individual.

    upload_2025-11-19_9-59-17.jpeg
     
    #1 Georgina Rudkus, Nov 19, 2025 at 9:59 AM
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
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  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Subaru dealer forgot the key when I picked up the car. Since there multiple key patterns, it was easier for them to just install a new set of lock lugs with new key.

    I'm just thinking of replacing the lock lugs with standard ones.
     
    #2 Trollbait, Nov 19, 2025 at 10:34 AM
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Yup, early on I taped my phone number to the locking-nut socket. Then for good measure, I purchased four extra regular lug nuts, retired the locking nuts. Belts and braces. :)

    Speaking of ID for keys, I've got a couple of house keys plus the Prius fob on a ring, added an ID tag to it. I heard recently that having phone numbers and email on a tag might lead to identity theft, so switched to a War Amps tag.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Nov 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM
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  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    If you live in a high crime big city and have really expensive wheels maybe a lock would be worth it... But in general they are dumb because of the problems outlined in this thread. A couple years ago I did work trade for an '86 Toyota truck with some really nice and very old centerline wheels with wheel locks that no one has the keys for and I'm going to have to buy or rent a nut breaker to get them off by destroying them. It's one of the reasons I rarely drive it.
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:07 PM
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    It’s like Honda car radios: any 12 volt disconnect and you’ve got to enter a code, or it’s bricked and stays bricked. If you’re in the States there’s a website where you can answer a few security questions and recover the code. AFAIK in Canada you’re SOL, didn’t work up here.

    pure cargo cult, considering the (near zero) likelihood of anyone wanting the proprietary, basic radios.

    AI’s telling me for 2013 and newer it’s still the case, but there’s a simple workaround. Which begs the question…
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Nov 19, 2025 at 10:26 PM
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2025 at 10:33 PM
  6. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Active Member

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    According to the manual, apparently you can set this 'feature' on the Gen 5s. I haven't.

    Too many locks can be bad.

    A friend of mine recently had the TPMS go off in his truck. He couldn't access the spare tire underneath because of a lock. I forget if it was rusted or he didn't have the key. Luckily he was able to get to a shop.
     
    #6 VelvetFoot, Nov 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
  7. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I prefer the 'zero-key' method.

    The last 'car' I bought had dealer installed aftermarket so-called 'locking lugs.'
    I refused to sign the papers until they replaced them with standard lugs.
     
    #7 ETC(SS), Nov 20, 2025 at 8:58 AM
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