What I want to know is: how can I source 4 volk alloy lugs to replace the locking lugs?

 

I was curious about the newer McGuard lug nuts with the tapered, spinning sleeve to help deter the standard method to remove them without the key.

Do these slow the perps down at all?

 

Not sure how good the sleeves work. Depends on how strong they are (if they crush when a slightly small socket is placed onto them ... then they may not help). If anything can be hammered between the sleeve and the body of the lug, then they can likely be defeated easilly. Only need enough resistance to overcome the 85ish ft lbs that a lug is normally torqued to. But, if you go to a lot of tire shops, they probably hammer your lugs down to 150 ft lbs with an impact so that would make it harder :P Ask me how I know ....

 

Buy 5 sets of locks, its cheaper than replacing your wheels, Is it a hassle, yes. But it will slow down or stop most who would steal your wheels, they would have to have multiple sockets to get all 20 lug nuts off and that takes time and makes noise. Once you hammer the socket onto the lug nut it takes time to get it off the lug nut and they would have to do that 19 times.

ROD

 

Meh maybe. You dont have to hammer them on super far since wheels are only torqued to around 90 ft lbs or less. And you just loosen the nut, then knock the socket off before threading the rest of the way off. Unless it is right outside your window most thieves wanting your wheels dont care if it takes a few extra minutes. When I removed my locks that were missing the key, I only had one socket stuck on the lug and that was the first one I did because I simply hit it too hard putting it on.

Again, we are mostly kidding ourselves by taking comfort in these security devices. Most are shocked when they find out how insecure all of them really are. Case in point: An acquaintance had an alarm put on his daughters new car. She went to a movie with friends and parked in the mall lot, under a street light. Lot was very busy and always had people in it. Her car was broken into, stereo stolen, including all the speakers. When she came out, some kids in the lot said 4 big guys walked up, broke the window with a hammer and 2 of them spent 5-10 minutes taking what they wanted with the alarm screaming. One of the kids called the cops, who arrived 30 min later. No one in the parking lot was about to confront the thieves, since the other two they said were over 6' and huge and stood there staring at anyone that walked that way (going to risk your life over someone elses stereo?). Never caught the guys either, even with a description.

Dont even get me started on your house locks. 99% of them are defeat able in seconds and even without any noticeable noise.

Yes, a lot of lug locks will deter the opportunity thief, but what opportunity thief is going around stealing wheels? Most are breaking window to quickly snatch valuables. The ones that go out to get wheels will get them.

Not saying to never use the locks, just that they are very, very ineffective when it really counts. I am sure a few have been deterred by them, but likely not many.Where you park and when you park there likely has more to do with it. For example, if the lot is constantly busy, a thief has no idea, unless they followed you there, which person in that lot owns the car they are about to mess with.

 

It is like warfare. Some gains, some losses. You protect high value targets with reasonable and appropriate measures. Garages work better than apartment parking lots. GPS/Geo fencing helps locate the beast when it is jacked on a flatbed; locate it before it is moved by the thieves from its temporary position to the chop shop.
Some use flat link, super hard chains to lock a wheel or two preventing all 4 going away and perhaps driving away too. Ignition switches can help too.

House locks are another. Medeco are worth every penny but so are my two >100lb un-nueterted black male dogs.

 

The thing is, for every story about how some security measure didn't work, and the theives made off with the goods anyway, there are countless others no one ever knows about where the theft prevention worked.

A low life saw something he wanted, was thinking of taking it, but was deterred by the theft prevention tech. He just didn't have the right tools for the job on hand, or the right skills and experience to get past them.

We just don't have any way to know how often our theft prevention tech worked.

Think of it this way. Do you lock your car doors? Its so easy for a thief to get past them. Yet its easy to imagine those simple locks prevent a lot of theft...

 

In the S2k, I leave them unlocked more than locked. Do you want to replace your $500 (parts only) soft top because someone cut it to steal your $150 stereo? Me neither. I keep nothing valuable in my S at all for that reason. If someone wants to break in looking for valuables, I will gladly give up my cheap head unit rather than have them cut the top to get to it. Door locks on this car provide zero security. If someone wants your seats, 30 seconds, cut top, unlock door, then they go at them. So in the case of this car, the door locks are useless.

On my other cars I lock them, but I normally have more crap in there. but someone can still just break the window, but is much louder than cutting the top on a soft top at least.

I think locks are mostly to give us all warm fuzzies. I use them on my hard top cars, but know that they are minimally helpful.

I am much more concerned with theft when I tow the S on a trailer. It is pretty easy to drag a trailer off with the entire car, so I take a few more precautions, knowing that serious thieves can still get it if they are experienced.