thedofuss

there is another thread regarding whether or not to buy wheel locks. the basic question is: have you ever had your wheels stolen? where do you live?

Zymurgy

I haven't, but my dad did years ago. Parked a Corvette company car (he was a Chevy exec) outside the garage. In the morning, it was on blocks and all 4 wheels were gone. This was in an upscale neighborhood in Farmington Hills, MI.

Think of wheel locks as you would any other theft deterrent device (locks on your home, home alarm, etc.). You want to make your car a more difficult target so they may move on to something easier. They want quick and quiet.

slief

I live in So. Cal but have never had my wheels stolen. Then again, I've run wheel locks as long as I can remember. Having said that, I run Gorilla lugs on my C7 just as I did on my C6. Not so much because of the fact that they are keyed (that is one factor) but more because of the fact that they are black. In my mind they are good looking piece of mind.

gthal

I think cars left outside in nice neighborhoods are more at risk... nicer cars, nicer wheels make the inventory selection better IMO.

If I was leaving my C7 outside at night, it would have wheel locks.

onthebottom

What did you order, do you have a pic? I have black wheels and am close to pulling the trigger. Side question, did you use any special wrench or socket to protect the clear coated wheels.

slief

I ordered the black chrome gorilla locks. Every lug is keyed and they come with the tool that adapts them to a standard size socket/lug wrench.
These are what I run.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c7-v...torsports.html

Greg00Coupe

Wheel locks are a deterrent and for $100 or so a good investment. But it does not take much to get them off with the right tools. Not sure the common thief will go to that trouble of be that smart but it's not significant security.

Rossi6998

Vetteman Jack

Never had any wheels stolen. But for better than 30 years my cars have always been kept in the garage. Haven't had anyone mess with the car when away from home except for the one time I drove my first Corvette to St. Louis and two guys tried to steal the car while at the hotel.

glenB

I tried to have them stolen but couldn't find anybody to do it .....

kp

37 years of driving and living in some large cities across the country I have only lost a spare tire/wheel from under an SUV.

But I have cussed out a few sets of wheel locks when the dealer forgot to put the key in the car when I bought it new, or hid it too well and I couldnt find it. I'm pretty happy the last few cars and trucks that came with OE wheel locks werent installed, they were in the package - thats exactly where they stayed

KenHorse

$100?

Gorilla locks are around $25 for a set of 4 - all you need

Zymurgy

Or about $60 for a set of 20. If one lock per wheel is good, 5 locks per wheel must be better. Well, it is certainly more of a deterrent and that is the real purpose.

slief

You need to check out Gorilla locks. You couldn't be more wrong.

Not only that but common thief is going to have one hell of a time removing 20 of those things! 20 of them are not going to be easy to remove regardless of the tools.

bnall40

My only experience was with a new Ford T-Bird, (large version). When it came time to rotate the dealer could not remove the locks. They finally did but it was an operation and some damage to the wheel resulted...

mksz51

I'd agree if you are talking about the ones with the spinning external sleeve. IF you are talking about the ones that are just a nut with an external "keyed pattern" on them they are pretty easy to remove. Hammer on a slightly smaller socket and apply a breaker bar to the socket. Done. You can buy cheap sockets - 4 of them or 20 of them. Doesn't take that long and the wheels would be off the vehicle.

HogwildC7

dont think you need locks in Texas. They normally steal entire car.

C7Joy

Never had wheels stolen, just the whole damn car, at knife point!

(From wife in a church parking lot. Not a Vette, but scary.)

ChucksZ06

Your post is spot on. It makes me laugh because you just left behind 90 % of the forum members with the simplicity of said suggestion. Difference between mechanics and engineers.

slief

That is about right on the price. I paid about $56 for the set of 20 on Amazon.


While that may be true, getting off 20 of them let alone 5 from one wheel will still be a pain even for a determined thief and will also make a hell of a racket. Plus the gorilla locks are round at the top as well as at the keyed area so it would take a well prepared thief to get those off. I think odds are that the car would be stolen before they get all 4 wheels off the car.

Then again, all they would need to do is smash the window and find the lock removal tool in the car. Still, they are a deterrent and any deterrent is better than none at all. Plus they look good!