I checked out the a few tire websites to see the Bridgestone Potenza RE 070 that are coming on the STi - wow, expensive. Between the tires and the rims (probably somewhere around $1000 or more in American dollars if similar in price to the BBS 17's offered currently for the WRX) we will probably running on $1600 or more at each corner. I couldn't tell from the pics at the autoshow if the car is coming from the dealer with wheel locks or not, but it would definately would be a good purchase when you leave the lot, and you should be able to find them in gold to match the rims. Anyone who doesn't install a half decent alarm might find their car on blocks sans rollers without wheel locks. But then you might not care - without a decent alarm, wheels might be your last concern as the whole car will be gone.
Better get some wheel locks guys!
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I wouldn't put too much faith in wheel locks. After 5 years of switching summer to snows and back again, I finally lost the key to the McGard wheel locks on my old Integra. It turns out that a 24mm 12 point socket can be hammered on to the lock and its tight enough to take the torque from an impact wrench. It only added about 5 minutes to the time required to switch over, and that was only because I only had one 24 mm socket! If I had four, it would have added less than a minute.
Maybe other, newer wheel locks are better.
Maybe other, newer wheel locks are better.
Depending on the type of lock used, hammering on a socket is possible. That wouldn't be possible on my rims because the lock is actually toothed inside the lug and the lug is nearly tight inside the hole in the wheel.
Hopefully the BBSs are made in a similar way so that something like you are talking about isn't possible. But again, for $20 or whatever the things cost, it's better than nothing.
Hopefully the BBSs are made in a similar way so that something like you are talking about isn't possible. But again, for $20 or whatever the things cost, it's better than nothing.
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The thing about theft prevention is not about making your car theft-proof (you can't), but making it less vulnerable than most other cars. Wheel locks are better than no wheel locks and I'm not familiar with a 12-point socket and I'm assuming most amateur thieves wouldn't be carrying around one either. If my wheels get stolen, well at least I tried to prevent it and that is what insurance is for although yeah my premium would go up. 
Maybe I'll get wheel locks for all 5 lugs...then thieves would have to carry around 20 12-point sockets! :lol:
Maybe I'll get wheel locks for all 5 lugs...then thieves would have to carry around 20 12-point sockets! :lol:
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2,472 Posts
i've never used/needed wheel locks. but not knowing anything about them, i'm always worried about using them. the depth of most of the keys i've seen is very shallow; 1/4" max. now imagine you take it to a shop to have the brakes worked on. the monkeys power up their impacts and put the nuts on with 200ftlbs of torque; 110ftlbs over spec. then i have a flat and can't get the thing off, in part because of the over-torque and in part because the key has such a small bite and doesn't stay in on it's own. can the keys break? what do you do if you loose the key? do the companies even sell replacements? and for how much relative to the cost of a new set? oh geez, i'm so worried, i'm on the verge of tear here? . . .
. . . It all depends on the type you get. Like Clone the locks on my 4Runner are inside the lugnut.."toothed in." As far as keys, typically its a figurative saying. Most "keys" are actually sockets with special groves, teeth to fit to the lock itself. As far as size figure about the same as a socket, which you can hide in your car.
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