I GOT THE SEMA RIMS WITH THE FATTY TIRES! DO I NEED WHEEL LOCKS?

Advanced Wheel Locks

 

I have the sema rims and OEM wheel locks that I've been intending to replace with regular lugnuts. This post has reminded me to do it. The locks are a pain in the ass and we lost the key for my wife's Audi before so they just ripped the lugnut off at the shop. I hate to have a problem on the trail.

 

I've been internally debating this recently, and figure locks are a deterrent and if they want the wheels/tires, they're going to get them. Although the "Advanced Wheel Locks" look like a real solution... The last car I had locks on (wife's Honda Accord) ended up with them off when we took it into a private garage for service and they couldn't find the key, so they probably did the 'socket' trick and voila - no more locks. 11 years later, nobody tried stealing those wheels.

 

Have the factory oem black locks.( Toyota branded Mcgard locks) Have one key in the truck with the lug wrench, have a spare in the garage tool box.

As long as you don't use an impact gun to zip them on and off, I don't see how they would disintegrate or have any issues. I remove them every 5k miles to rotate the tires. No issues.

I guess if I was having a shop regularly working on my truck, I'd be a little more worried.

 

Most skip this step. I do the same as you and when I take my truck to a shop, I simply remove the locks. Strangely my locks and key work like new.

 

Same!

 

The issue is they can easily be taken off without the key, just as fast as a regular lug nut.
The oem wheel lock is extremely ineffective at deterring theft, which is what they are supposed to be meant for.
They cause more of a headache for the owner and service tech, who don't want to damage the wheel lock. A theif will have them off in no time however.

 

For <$100, you can buy a 'key' set on Amazon or at any automotive parts supply house which will let you remove the locking nut from virtually any vehicle.

 

Hopefully the thief just moves on to one of the other 12 Tacomas on my street without wheel locks.

It's kinda like a bike lock. Easily defeated, yes, but you'd feel pretty dumb if you didn't use one and your bike got stolen.

They cost me no extra work than removing any of the other lug nuts. To each his own.

 

I threw the McGard wheel locks on mine back when I was still parking on a driveway. Felt good for peace of mind at the time but I've since moved and now have a garage in which to park the Tacoma.

But I regret nothing!

 

You mean America?

 

This all begs the next question: Has anyone ever had a wheel stolen off their Tacoma?

 

And why don’t more people have the white lettering showing on the tires of their tacos? It looks cool as shit! Wait, did I just break a TW rule?

 

Someone needs driving lessons.

Or at least parking lessons.

Sheesh.

 

I actually searched this a bit and didn't find one thread anywhere about a trd pro sema wheel being stolen.
I don't want to be the first. Ordered the locks.

 

All that has to happen is use a socket a smidge smaller than the lock and whack it with a hammer. Then remove the lock with a ratchet.

If they have the time and location to jack and pull 24 lugnuts, 4 hammer raps aren't going to draw any more attention.

 

Yep, plus the fact that you can buy those keys from a number of places or use a biting socket meant to remove stripped wheel locks.

 

Not so easy, in fact I don't think that's possible with the locks I've mentioned in this thread

 

Not possible with the locks I ordered