Do Wheel Locks Prevent Theft? You won’t like the answer

Wheel locks don’t prevent theft, they just slow down the thieves by a few minutes

Wheel locks used to offer cheap protection against thieves. Just buy a set of four, install them on your wheels and stop worrying about finding your car on blocks. Those days are gone and you can blame the proliferation of affordable battery powered impact wrenches and wide availability of cheap lock removal sockets and master key sets. These days,  any juvenile delinquent entrepreneur can start their own wheel theft business with just a $300 investment. Worried about your wheels now? Here’s why they’re not much of a deterrent.

These two most common locking lug nut designs are also the easiest to defeat

Tuner lug nuts

The set of 4 tuner lug nuts comes with one matching key. You can order a backup key from the manufacturer but you’ll need the code that comes with the set. Few owners do that. If you lose the key, you or the shop will have to use a removal socket; the same type used by wheel thieves.

The package instructions warn you not to use the key with an impact wrench and they mean it. The unique pattern simply can’t handle that much torque. Here’s what happens when you use an impact wrench on this type of lock.

Spline Drive Lug Nuts
Spline drive lug nuts are available with an external internal spline. They’re also sold with different spline count, spline angle/dimensions. Like the Tuner lug nuts, these are easily removed with removal sockets if you lose the key.

Anybody can buy a master set of spline drive removal sockets (left) or a set of lug nut extractors (right).

Spinning Sleeve Lug Nuts are a bit harder to defeat; unless you have the right tool

Spinning sleeve lug nuts are a variation on the external spline drive lug nuts with the added security of a spinning sleeve surrounding the splines. It’s definitely harder to remove
if you lose the key. But thieves know how to pop the sleeve using a special tool. Once the sleeve is off, they just use a locking lug nut removal socket and Bob’s Your Uncle.

Thieves can buy a master set of keys or not even bother with a key

These are the tools of the wheel theft trade and they’re all available online

To lock or not to lock

Here’s the bottom line; all wheel locks can be defeated and it doesn’t take a lot to pull it off. If you want to slow down wheel thieves, buy the type with a spinning sleeve. That’ll slow them down much more than the other two styles. But if you cheap out on locking lug nuts, don’t be surprised if your find your vehicle up on blocks some day.
©, 2023 Rick Muscoplat