My locking wheel nut key is getting a little worn to say the least. Local dealer wants £18+VAT for a replacement. Wondering if it's not worth the hassle of having locking wheel bolts on a car that is 7 years old and just standard Elegance 16" alloys? Do scroats still nick wheels? Not seen any evidence in these parts (South West) for as long as I can remember. Any one had an incidence of attempts of stolen wheels recently?

If not a good idea, where to get a locking bolt tool for less than from a dealer?

Have you tried TPS -( VAG trade parts specialists )

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/

Don't assume it's the wheels they are after. Tyres will be a target too.

Don't assume it's the wheels they are after. Tyres will be a target too.

More of a problem on Transits, unless good quality( on a car). And the spare is also a choice target.

Edited 28 July, 201213 yr by VWD

£18+VAT vs no wheels.

Not much of a competition there.

I got rid of my locking nuts years ago, they always round off-never for many years have heard of anyone having wheels pinched.

"They always round off"

Somebody's not removing their nuts properly

I have never rounded off a locking nut. If they're decent ones and you do it properly this shouldn't happen.

I had a problem with mine where the key tended to jump when you applied any force. I went to order a new key last month but found that a complete set of new bolts + key were just a few quid more (around £25 inc. VAT IIRC). The new ones are a far better design that I can't imagine will ever slip or jump, so I'm much happier with them.

Only discovered afterwards that the new ones are smaller diameter heads, so the previous plastic covers don't fit them. I think I was £2-3 to order 4 new caps.

try ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-LOCKING-WHEEL-NUT-KEY-062-WHT002480062-GENUINE-/271024681975?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Wheels_tyres_Trim_Nuts_ET&hash=item3f1a5473f7

I.ll be replacing mine soon as the Tyre fitter company keep using windy guns on them :(

Got rid of mine; same problem with the key becoming worn and slippping. Don't think the NEDS in this part of the world have much desire for 15" Pyxis alloys - more likely to steal the whole bloody car!

The plastic covers hide them anyway so one scroat to the next won't know if the locking wheel nut is present or not.

If they are after the tyres (and aren't bothered about the alloys) then they'll just smash the nut off anyway.

It's rare to have alloys nicked these days, it's easier and pays better to just nick the whole car.

It's even rarer for a theif to be on the hunt for Skoda 15" / 16" alloys too

I.ll be replacing mine soon as the Tyre fitter company keep using windy guns on them :(

I would use a different tyre fitter!

I got rid of my locking nuts years ago, they always round off-never for many years have heard of anyone having wheels pinched.

Till the travelling community arrived ,we'd never had a cat or spare wheel nicked on our van .Suddenly there was that big a shortage of cats that Ford had to ration them .

The locking nuts round when they are subject to excessive torque. One tyre place told me that normal nut torque was 120 FT/LB. Handbook says N/M. If you ever get new tyres, check the pressure they put in them. Van above had a dancing rear end till we took it back ,and manager checked pressure in tyres. We used lease vans and often we'd change a van ,to get a "second hand" one. One had ABS problems - one tyre place had fitted a 185x??x?? instead of a 205 .

Not naming the place- but they claim you can't get better than a idiot fitter.They're the blokes that cause rust .

Edited 29 July, 201213 yr by VWD

Hmmm. I think I'll get a set of 4x normal wheel bolts from GFS for around £7 and put the locking ones on when I visist areas of 'ill repute'. It's just I have to get pair of rear tyres fitted this week and I think the locking bolt tool wont last out with another bout of 'air-gunning'

Blimey guys, you must go to some fairly crappy tyre places. My local (Watling Tyres) won't use the air-gun on locking nuts.

I replaced mine with McGards after an 'issue' with the dealer and missing locking bolt.

I've never had a garage or tyre place knacker the key (always use and indy) but I did do it myself. €18 for a replacement from Germany.

Be aware that insurance companies are likely to refuse to payout if you haven't informed them of a change to the vehicle i.e. fitting non-locking wheel nuts when locking ones were standard equipment. If you have a smash and the insurance have the vehicle inspected it could come out on the report. They could then refuse to payout as you breached the condition about informing them of changes...

If you do inform them than they are likely to bump your premium up - probably safer and cheaper in the long run to stick with locking ones.

Of course if you don't have insurance you don't need to worry

Be aware that insurance companies are likely to refuse to payout if you haven't informed them of a change to the vehicle i.e. fitting non-locking wheel nuts when locking ones were standard equipment. If you have a smash and the insurance have the vehicle inspected it could come out on the report. They could then refuse to payout as you breached the condition about informing them of changes...

If you do inform them than they are likely to bump your premium up - probably safer and cheaper in the long run to stick with locking ones.

Of course if you don't have insurance you don't need to worry

Perhaps I should inform them if I change the brand of fuel I use or change brand of tyre fitted too? :S For all I know is that they were not fitted as standard when I bought the car as a used car from a Skoda dealer. How would they tell they were not fitted then? I can't see this as a safety issue, much like fitting winter tyres in winter.

Perhaps I should inform them if I change the brand of fuel I use or change brand of tyre fitted too? :S For all I know is that they were not fitted as standard when I bought the car as a used car from a Skoda dealer. How would they tell they were not fitted then? I can't see this as a safety issue, much like fitting winter tyres in winter.

Whilst they could, arguably, have some scope for attempting to avoid a payout I have to wonder:

1) why people think insurance assessors have the time and inclination to go looking for things like this just for the sake of it.

2) whether Such attempts would fall foul of the 1977 unfair terms legislation - I.e. although it is in your insurance 'contract' it might not be enforceable

It's different if the crash was caused by a wheel falling off - yes I'd agree that in such a case the bolts may then form part of an investigation, but even then i suspect only if serious injury had occurred.

I'd chuck the locking nuts and replace with standards.

In fact I did, six months ago, and touch-wood....my wheels are still there! The local robbers seem to be more interested in copper than alloy these days!

It's really easy to round off the locking nuts, especially when 'professional' tyre fitters are so keen on air gunning them back on and ridiculously over-torquing. If you use the tools in the boot to get the nuts back off, and find yourself jumping on the wrench, the locking nuts haven't got a chance!

The risk of getting stuck somewhere and unable to change my own wheel is more scary than someone stealing my wheels.

Whilst they could, arguably, have some scope for attempting to avoid a payout I have to wonder:

1) why people think insurance assessors have the time and inclination to go looking for things like this just for the sake of it.

2) whether Such attempts would fall foul of the 1977 unfair terms legislation - I.e. although it is in your insurance 'contract' it might not be enforceable

It's different if the crash was caused by a wheel falling off - yes I'd agree that in such a case the bolts may then form part of an investigation, but even then i suspect only if serious injury had occurred.

Insurance companies will look for anything not to pay out so if someone steals your wheels and you didn't have locking wheel nuts on don't expect them to pay out.

Hmm.... I think what I'll do is to order a new locking tool AND order 4x new wheel bolts. I'll then fit the standard bolts to the wheels every time the car goes to the garage or for new tyres so they can do what the like to the bolts and refit the locking bolts myself once the work is done I always tend to loosen and then retorque the bolts myself to the specified setting when back home anyway. Saves having to wrestle with overly tight bolts on a cold, wet, windy night some where beyond the back of nowhere.

Insurance companies will look for anything not to pay out so if someone steals your wheels and you didn't have locking wheel nuts on don't expect them to pay out.

When I wanted to put locking nuts on The Fun Truck, the insurance company were going to class this as a modification, as I must have put alloys on there to need locking nuts. As far as they were concerned no Felicia ever came with alloys without locking nuts.

I think my "protection" with no locking nuts on The Fun is that the bright yellow wheels, and so very few and far between.