How important are wheel locks?

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El Cucui - 02 Oct 2007 02:06 GMT

I have a Lexus IS that has a wheel lock on each rim. After a bad experience
trying to change a flat on a busy freeway at night, I discovered that they
make changing the tire a pain in the a.s. Since I don't need to worry about
my rims being stolen I figured they're more trouble than they're worth so I
want to take them off. Is it OK to drive the car without the wheel locks?
What would happen if I drove the car for an exteded period of time without
the wheel locks.

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Anonymous - 02 Oct 2007 02:31 GMT

>I have a Lexus IS that has a wheel lock on each rim. After a bad experience
>trying to change a flat on a busy freeway at night, I discovered that they
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>What would happen if I drove the car for an exteded period of time without
>the wheel locks.

"Since I don't need to worry about my rims being stolen"

Well AFAIK, that's there only purpose.

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Ice - 02 Oct 2007 02:35 GMT

I don't think ther would be any problem as long as you replace the wheel
lock with another standard lug nut .

> I have a Lexus IS that has a wheel lock on each rim. After a bad experience
> trying to change a flat on a busy freeway at night, I discovered that they
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> What would happen if I drove the car for an exteded period of time without
> the wheel locks.

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Dlee - 02 Oct 2007 03:46 GMT

> I have a Lexus IS that has a wheel lock on each rim. After a bad experience
> trying to change a flat on a busy freeway at night, I discovered that they
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> What would happen if I drove the car for an exteded period of time without
> the wheel locks.

The purpose of the wheel locks is to deter theft. If that is not a
problem, they are not required as long as you put the regular lug nuts
back on in their place.

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J Golden - 02 Oct 2007 03:59 GMT

Not very important at all IMHO. Nearly all Lexus models imported into
the US had wheel locks included. But I've never heard of the wheels of
the RX 300 ever being stolen. (The blue headlights, on the 2003 and
later models, on the other hand, had been frequently stolen before the
"data dot" application.

Most tire dealers and my local AAA carry the key for the wheel lock
anyway, so I question how secure it is.

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Elmo P. Shagnasty - 02 Oct 2007 06:54 GMT

> I have a Lexus IS that has a wheel lock on each rim. After a bad experience
> trying to change a flat on a busy freeway at night, I discovered that they
> make changing the tire a pain in the a.s.

That never occurred to you BEFORE? What did you think "wheel locks"
are? If their goal is to make it difficult for other people to remove
your wheels to steal them, what did you think it would do for you? Make
it easier? Nah.

Whenever I get a car with wheel locks, step 1 is to replace them with
standard lug nuts/bolts.

> Since I don't need to worry about
> my rims being stolen I figured they're more trouble than they're worth so I
> want to take them off. Is it OK to drive the car without the wheel locks?

Ummmmm......yes.

> What would happen if I drove the car for an exteded period of time without
> the wheel locks.

As in, "without anything in there"? Nothing good.

Go to your dealer parts department and ask for four straight,
non-locking lug nuts for your car.

BTW, Snap-On sells a tool that will remove ANY wheel lock FASTER than
you can using the official tool that Lexus gave you. And if you don't
think the homies have that same tool....wheel locks are a placebo to
make suckers feel good. They do no good, and are only a pain in the a.s.

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