On occasion, it must seem like the architects of this series think danger and the nation’s criminals lurk around every corner. We’ve brought you Club-style theft prevention, bumper guards, and now wheel locks. Good job we balance it out with the likes of work gloves, tire shine, and floor jacks.
Wheel locks are sold by the aftermarket and every single new car dealership in which your author has ever stepped foot. When asked for a pricing breakdown of a new car, there is invariably a ridiculous line item reading ‘wheel locks’ or something similar, ranging in price from $50 to in excess of a c-note.
Bin that and get yer own, we say. Most options of on this list are less than half the price of what the Junior in the business office is trying to sell you. Just be sure you’re buying ones that are of the correct overall length and proper thread size. We’ve thrown in a few parking-style wheel locks for good measure as well but do note that none of these things guarantee security. If someone’s bent on taking your wheels, they probably will.
Table of Contents
1. Editor's Choice: McGard Wheel Locks
By and large, it is very likely this is the brand of wheel locks with which you will end up should you choose to acquiesce to that dealership line item. McGard sells a metric ton of these things, in all variety of size and shape. As recommended above, be sure to find the set that fits your specific application.
McGard’s generally come with four or five lug nut locks (depending on the vehicle for which they are intended) and a key. That key has a pattern fitting the head of the locking lug nut on one end and a hex shape on the other end to fit your tire iron. Don’t forget the lock when you’re dropping off your car for a tire rotation.
2. Gorilla Automotive Wheel Locks
Seeking to bring the heat to McGard by offering a similar product in direct competition, these locking lug nuts from Gorilla Automotive are likewise available in a yaffle of lengths and thread sizes. This ensures a good fit and no chewing up of difficult to replace wheel studs.
Reviews are excellent, with more than one real-world customer noting that locking lug nuts (from this or any brand) can be bypassed by a determined robber. Still, they are praised for being a good preventive measure whose color-matching is acceptable for the price.
3. Trimax TCL65 Wheel Chock Lock
Yes, this extends outside the general realm of wheel locks and into something one might find featured on a show like Parking Wars when Garfield finds a wayward or miscreant vehicle. The difference here, of course, is that you’re trying to protect your vehicle, not fall into Philadelphia’s byzantine labyrinth of car impound lots.
These tools are great for protecting a trailer, for example, with its 7.25-inch clamp making for a quick and easy installation on the tires of a hauler you’re about to leave unattended. The design of this lock incorporates a wheel chock, helping to keep the thing from rolling away.
4. Zone Tech Wheel Lock Tire Clamp
Similar in concept to the locking wheel chock profiled above, this thing also goes clamped around the tire of a vehicle or trailer. It does not have as robust a chocking feature, instead deploying a soft-coated to act as a deterrent to turning the tire. Its seller points out the lock is highly visible due to its striking red and yellow colors but we’re not so sure that’s a plus. We prefer stealthy security.
In any event, the lock cylinder has a cap on it to prevent unwanted intrusion of dirt and debris. The clamp’s design is supposed to prevent a wheel from being turned left and right as well. That soft coating also shows up on the clamp’s teeth, helping to prevent scratched wheels.
5. White Knight Wheel Lock Set
Returning to traditional wheel locks. we find this company which offers its wares at a price well south of most other brands in this segment. Chrome in appearance and available in a multitude of sizes, there should be a style of lock from this brand to fit the wheels on your car.
One of the reasons for its sub-$15 price tag is that the washer, a feature normally found attached to the lug nut, is packaged separately. Presumably, this helps the manufacturer to churn out more of these things in a hurry but it does little to help with ease of installation. Getting one of those washers on an angle between the wheel and lug nut is a recipe for chewed up parts.
6. Toyota Genuine Accessories Wheel Lock
We’re including this product as an example that gen-u-wine products from an OEM are available in this segment. Since the company that built your car, truck, or SUV is printed right on the package, there’s an excellent chance they’ll fit with little fuss.
As with most products branded with the crest of a car company, these locking lug nuts are a bit more expensive than some other options. Many customers gave a five-star rating to these locks, with the few proffering a one-star review complaining about the fact these things don’t totally deter vandalism or theft. Those people would do well to remember or warning at the top of this post – wheel locks are deterrents, not anti-theft guarantees.
7. DS Parts Wheel Stud Bolt Locks
For those of you in the audience rocking certain types of German metal, there are wheel lock solutions for cars that have infernal stud bolts rather than lug nuts. Operating in the same fashion, these security devices require the included key for tightening or removal. This particular option is designed to fit a series of BMW vehicles but others are available.
Touted to be an aftermarket item with exactly the same function as OEM equipment, the listing goes so far as to provide an array of interchangeable parts numbers. In other words, there’s a solid chance you’ll be able to call the BMW parts desk, chuckle at the price they’re asking, then buy these things.
8. Abus Granit Brake Disc Lock
“Hang on a minute,” you cry. “What if I want to secure a bike?” We’ve got you covered there, too. This brute from a company called Abus, which makes a number of locks that generally gets a thumbs up from the Lockpicking Lawyer – or as much of a thumbs-up as he tends to give, anyway. This type of lock is designed to slide through the bike’s front disc brake and discourage theft.
Reviews are stellar, as you’d expect for an Abus product. Also expected? A relatively high price, though it’s surely an amount less than the worth of the machine you’re trying to prevent getting stolen. The 13.5mm locking bolts, lock body, and structural parts of the locking mechanism are manufactured using specially hardened steel.
FAQs
Which wheel lock is best?
The wheel lock that you find the best might depend on what do you expect from it, and for what purpose you are planning to have one. Usually, two types of wheel locks are available in the market namely:
Wheel Nut Lock
This wheel lock has a shape of a lug nut and can be unlocked using a special key. Wheel nut lock is commonly used by consumers. However, because this type of lock is installed by replacing a lug nut from each wheel of the vehicle, it is small in size and remains almost invisible. Due to this, the thieves may still attempt to steal the wheel and might end up causing damage to the vehicle in the process.
Wheel Clamp
This lock type clamps around the wheel and prevents both car and the wheel from being stolen. The good thing is, wheel clamps are easily visible. Because of this, the would-be thieves can know that the vehicle and its wheels are protected against theft, and they must move to a different target instead of attacking your car.
The bottom line is, while wheel nut locks are small in size and remain out of sight, they are not always visual theft deterrents. On the other hand, wheel clamps are bulky but are good enough to discourage thieves from approaching your vehicle. In addition, wheel clamps protect both car and wheels, and therefore they can be considered a good option when your automotive is to be left unused for a long time.
Do wheel locks stop thieves?
Yes, if you are using wheel clamps for locking, they can discourage the thieves and drive them off your vehicle. Because wheel clamps are large in size and are easily visible from a distance, they are visual theft deterrents.
This is not the case if you use wheel nut locks as they are small, and are installed in place of a lug nut. Although the latter option protects the wheels from being stolen, the thieves might still approach your vehicle as they may not see the wheel nut lock installed on the wheel(s) of your car.
Are wheel locks a waste of money?
The bitter truth is, no security is foolproof. If someone is determined enough to steal your wheels whatsoever, they will do it anyhow. With that said, if a thief is professional and has decided to steal, none of the wheel locks would be able to stop them from doing so.
However, amateurs who want to steal your car wheels merely for the reselling purpose might move on to the next target if they find a lock installed on it. Therefore, if you are in a region where theft is common, using wheel clamps would be advisable as they are large and can be seen from a distance.
How can I prevent my wheels from being stolen?
As long as you are using a strong visual theft deterrent wheel lock from a reputed brand, the thieves won’t approach your car to steal the wheels, at least not that confidently. Nevertheless, the best way to keep not only the wheels but your entire vehicle safe and protected is to park it in a parking lot. And while at home, make sure to keep the car in your garage whenever possible.
From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.
(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)
[Main photo credit: Bizi88 / Shutterstock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]
Living about a mile from where the above photo was taken, I am very sensitive to this issue. I strongly urge NOT buying special wheel/tire combos if you park anywhere that you don’t have a secure garage. If that fails, my advice is to buy the wheel locks the dealer offers (Those locks will fit and the dealer will have a universal key when tire rotation is needed) and BUY AN EXTRA KEY!!!!
My new Blazer came with these, not because I wanted them but the car came from another dealer who puts them on everything and charges 75 bucks. My dealer ate the cost rather than switch to the standard lugs. Hopefully if I ever need to take off a wheel I’ll remember that key wrench is in the glove box.
There is a truism that when a thief specifically targets a particular item, it will get stolen.
Sooner or later.
However, the immense majority of instances, the thefts are opportunistic robberies. So it is always a good practice to stack the odds in your favor.
I’ve always wondered how many different keys are there for these things?
Is it 3 or 5? As long as the crooks have a keychain full can they get them off?
Or are we talking hundreds of different keys and preventing that?
The crooks have defeat devices for all wheel locks. Some are improvised, homemade, others are pro tools sold to tire shops, mechanics, towers, etc.
All one needs is a tool for removing stripped nuts.
I resist locking lug nuts/bolts for a couple of reasons.
1. I find it hard enough to get them off in my calm and cool workshop. Think of trying to change a tire in the rain at night. If the car came with them, I replace the locking lug nut with a regular one as soon as possible. My wife’s Ford came with an extra set of regular lug nuts, just for people like me I guess. I’ve been driving cars for 60 years (OK, some of those years not legally) and I have never had a wheel stolen.
2. There are different kinds of seats on lug nuts, tapered and spherical being two that I’ve encountered. Even though the nuts/bolts may have the right thread, they may not have the right seat. Use the wrong seat and the wheel may be damaged, or worse, fail.
If you live n a neighborhood where your wheels might be stolen, perhaps you should move.
I don’t know if the Gorilla locks are made in the USA, but I do know that the McGard locks are. The Toyota locks shown are made by McGard as well. McGard also makes tailgate lacks and spare tire locks (trucks, SUVs) that are available repackaged for the OEMs as well. Toyota typically charges something like $129 for a set of wheel locks that you can buy as McGard locks for $25-$30 at the local auto parts store.
And yeah, if you’re going to buy a set, get a spare key to keep at home, which usually means mailing in a card that comes in the package with the locks, along with a check or credit card info. That also serves to register the locks (you can also do that without buying a spare key. You can also order spare locks, in case some hamfisted tire installer cross-threads one of your locks.
As far as wheel locks go, they’re not a slam dunk. If a thief is determined and has the time, there are ways to get the locks off. The locks just make it more difficult for the thief to get them.
I’ll point out that McGard is a US company which does most all of it’s manufacturing here in the US.
I’ve had about 10 different sets of their products and have NEVER had a materials or finish failure with their products. Haven’t seen them rust or had any issues whatsoever.
They run enough permutations of their locking lugs that it’s highly unlikely a thief has the proper key, especially as the locking lugs are smooth-sided, so it’s not just a matter of having something to jam into a deep well.
If you care about the finish of expensive aftermarket wheels, their “SplineDrive” lugs can be had with a floating seat so the seat won’t turn after it makes contact and you continue to torque down to spec. Having had a few sets of wheels with expensive finishes, the SplineDrive system system has resulted in zero damage to the finish of any wheel they have been on.
https://mcgard.com/automotive/lug-nutslug-bolts/splinedrive-lug-nuts/
Full disclosure: I’m not associated to them in any way. Have bought all McGard products at full MSRP. They have never let me down and that’s worth something to me.
I once bought a Renault Fluence and the dealer offered the oem wheel locks and I said yes. They were Renault-branded McGard made in Italy.
Currently I’m more paranoid about catalytic converter theft than I am about wheel theft.
You all realize how easy it is to defeat any of these, right?
It takes a thief way less time to get these off than it does you or your mechanic, up on a lift, in a well lit, controlled garage. Shoot, if nothing else just bang a slightly undersize socket over it real hard and just turn.
Wheel locks are like the “mom hatch” on a submarine. It makes you feel good, but real people know there’s no substance there.
What pray tell is a “mom hatch” on a submarine?
This is a general question re all this, not a specific one I already made, in case it’s mis-located.
Here’s the Q: why does NO ONE, never in these tests, analyses and rankings EVER raise the obvious issue of whether the substitute one out of 4 or 5 locks (for one of your lug nuts) balance the same as do the lug nuts they replace? Why is this not an issue? I’m not saying it won’t, or that McGard being a premier manufacturer won’t sell their locking nuts for specific vehicles, which may imply that they’re the same mass from a rotational balancing point of view, but it’s just never addressed, not once have I ever seen it. Why not? And if it’s not an issue, either because of my misreading of physics, or it’s dealt with in manufacture, why not address it? Is this not a problemo? Yours sincerely, Me.
I am curious about this (specifically whether we should include a square term when considering rotational inertia).
Here is my take, which may be off by a factor of ~4.
Visual aid:
https://www.amazon.com/Harzole-AW-M70-70pcs-Weight-CWC-M70/dp/B07Q5MK149
Here is a way to think about it. On my car the rim of the wheel is approximately 9 inches from the center of the wheel, and the lug nuts are about 2 inches from the center. If we took a wheel weight mounted on the rim and shifted it to be in line with the lug nuts, it would have to weigh around 20 times more to still do its job of balancing the wheel and tire (because there is a square term in the rotational inertial formula) [I think]. So a one-ounce wheel weight would turn into well over a pound (which would be ridiculous).
Stated another way – if you hung a 2.5-ounce wheel weight (the largest size on our visual aid link) on one of the lug nuts, it would take a 0.25 ounce weight at the rim to offset it – that’s the tiny little guy.
So I believe (could be wrong) there are three reasons why you’ve never seen this issue addressed:
a) The whole ‘balancing’ thing in practice with a wheel and tire is a compromise and is never close to absolute perfect.
b) The lug nuts are close enough to the center of the rotating mass that any difference in mass (or even removing a lug nut completely) is immaterial in the context of (a).
c) At most legal U.S. speeds the wheel isn’t spinning fast enough to make the balance imperfections noticeable (see bonus link).
Bonus:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/tirerevforcecalc.html
Math error – the 2.5 ounce weight would need 0.13 ounces to offset, or *half* the little guy.
Here’s where I am struggling with this whole thing: If I have a torque wrench twice as long as another torque wrench, the torque [for a given force of my hand on the wrench] is multiplied by 2 (linear, no square term, absolutely sure of this). Yet for rotational inertia we *do* square it [I think]. Brain hurts now.
I now *don’t* think the square term applies for a ‘point’ weight (such as a wheel weight or wheel-lock-which-differs-in-weight-from-other-lug-nuts), so take the 20X factor and make it 4.5X; the ‘principle’ would still apply but not to the same extent.
If this is correct and say a typical lug nut weighs 2 ounces, doubling the weight of a lug nut (on ‘my car’ example) would be the equivalent of adding a 0.4 ounce wheel weight out at the rim. But the wheel lock probably doesn’t weigh double, and most wheels/tires on most cars (in the U.S.) aren’t balanced down to that extent. [If it did become an issue at a given speed, you could swap the wheel lock position to a different stud.]
Rerunning old adds or is that a car at the trucker’s protest?
I’ve long had two issues with these. One, throwing the balance off slightly, has been addressed by previous commenters. The other is that since you obviously need the key in case it’s necessary to change a flat, it’s probably in your glove box, and every thief knows that. It’s not like those removable radio faceplates that used to be popular, which you ostensibly could stash in your bag when you leave the car. The wheel key IS in the car somewhere. So instead of just getting my wheels stolen, I get my window smashed too.
So far my anti-wheel-theft strategy – steelies with cheap wheel covers – has worked.