How can you protect your rims (OEM and aftermarket) from thieves?
 

Well, it seems like every two to three weeks, we are seeing "my rims got stolen" threads popping up (jeffblue , G35guy84, YZhang12). These scumbags thieves DO NOT care how they leave your car after they take the wheels. That's my biggest fear! If I were to come outside and I see my car on brick like this,

http://www.the370z.com/members/jeffb...n-wheels-1.jpg
Pic courtesy Jeffblue

http://www.the370z.com/members/g35gu...9-img-2147.jpg
Pic courtesy of G35guy84

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s..._com/KHoUr.jpg
Pic courtesy of yzhang12

I'll probably have a mini heart attack! I personally don't gave a F if these thieves steal my rims (heck, if you ask me nicely I'll probably give them to you) but leaving my car on bricks, that's unacceptable. :mad:

So, I have been trying to look into a solution for this. Don't get me wrong, I live in a pretty good neighborhood. I sometimes don't even lock my car. However, if I were to drive to North Jersey or NewYork, I can't say the same about those neighborhood. :ugh2:

So, after few minutes of search, I found these VOLK RACING Formula Lug Nuts which are reasonably priced and has rounded outside surface which means thieves can't take them off with a regular wrench. Take a look

RAYS ENGINEERING VOLK RACING Formula Lug Nuts

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...Picture023.jpg


Here's how they look on the car:
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...heelsJohn3.jpg
Pic courtesy of GAMEDOG (myg37)

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...4162009035.jpg
mounted on g37

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...4162009034.jpg

So, what you guys think? Do you have any other ideas? We have quite a few VOLKS Autorized dealers on our forum (as sponsors) and I'm sure they can come up with a good price on these sets. Biggest question is if these will fit properly with Sports package Rays? Lets discuss .....

one of my favorite lugs!!..problem is that they wont fit the sport package rays or the nismo rims..we have that stupid flat washer design..

Honestly, I think Garage is the best, next would be tilt sensor

hey AK, thanks for making one dedicated thread for this.

These volk nuts won't fit our sport package wheels or nismo wheels. However as far as aftermarket is concerned, they seem pretty good.

I think the general consensus is the typical mcguard type of wheel lock with the pattern in the top really doesn't do anything. With that in mind, i have found some other designs that seem to work better

1. Black top wheel locks - QMR Motorsports
http://www.concept1.ca/images/BT%20lock%20wkeys.jpg
These are actually caps that go over a lug nut. The lug nut must be 17mm or 19mm hex, (we usually have 21mm on our cars). Nismo makes a lug nut that these should fit over. its model number is 40222-RN700, it can be found here https://www.mynismo.com/products/?id=5360

The locks themselves are 28mm in diameter, so depending on your wheel, they could fit. Essentially, the wider portion of hte hole where the lug nut goes needs to be a bit bigger than 28mm in diameter for these to fit. The idea behind these is, they fit snugly in the hole, and there is no room to get around it with a bolt remover. That, and the outside portion spins freely.

2. Dency 2000 Wheel lock - KYO-EI - Dency 2000 Lock Nuts - Nengun Performance

These feature a magnetic cap that spins freely and supposedly can only be removed with the specific magnet they come with. These also seem to fill up most of the lug hole, making it difficult to get a bolt remover around them to get them off.

I can't embed this link from the video because its supposedly disabled by the user, but here is a link to it.

YouTube - ‪Kyo Ei Dency 2000 Wheel Locks‬‎

I can always trust in Ak, to come up with the perfect thread.

You're correct. I was curious about the washer design and looks like it won't fit :(.

I saw it on RHDJapan too. Are you getting this? Does this just go over the bolt or it's a lug by itself? because if it's a lug, it needs to washer design.

Kyo-Ei Dency 2000 Lock Nut Silver'
http://www.rhdjapan.com/media/catalo...mal/Image1.jpg

http://www.rhdjapan.com/media/catalo...mal/Image9.jpg

http://www.rhdjapan.com/media/catalo...mal/Image3.jpg


Thanks. I am just looking out for another member. I can ONLY imagine how hard it is to see your car on bricks. I'll probably have an emotional breakdown. :(

Looking for more ideas....

Slam your car so low that they can't fit a jack underneath there.

I think something like what Jeffblue posted will be the best solution, but as I always say, if someone wants something of yours that badly, they'll most likely find a way to get it.

I seriously hate thieves. It's just sad that we live in a world where we can't enjoy the things we work our butts off to get.

AK, neither. of the locks i posted wont work with our OEM rays wheels, but i am selling mine so i am just looking for aftermarket solutions. I tried my hardest to find a solution for the OEM wheels, but there realy isn't anything that will because of the washer design, its not very popular.

I can't find the video now, but apparently a couple of 'pikey's flipped some car, and then took a sawzall and cut off the suspension and took the wheels like that. And they filmed themselves doing it.

I have a dream, a dream where I come outside in the middle of the night and catch a thief red handed trying to steal my $h!t. Then I fire a couple rounds in the air and watch him squirm. ;)

The rounded outside surface is not an issue. I had wheel locks on my RSX that had the rounded outside surface. I'll just say that when I lost my key, I was able to get them off quickly and very, very easily.

These will slow down some of the thieves however, and I still think it's a good idea to use them. You should also invest in an aftermarket alarm with tilt sensor however.

Are these lugs worth the money or should I just install a digital tilt sensor on my car? I was going to go with some Spline or Muteki lugs on my Work T1S.

RAYS ENGINEERING VOLK RACING Formula Lug Nuts


http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...LKFORM15-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...Picture023.jpg

I don't see how those volk lugs could deter theives if they have the volk tools.

I like the gorilla guard locks with the spinning collar.

To be honest, locking lug nuts are only going to slow down a thief who knows what they're doing. If they want it that badly, they'll find a way to get it.

What do the gorilla guard locks look like? I google it but didn't come up with much.

Thanks buddy!

Formula lug nuts - After taking out the cap with a hex wrench, is the inside just another hex or cut like a key? If it's just another hex then it's not stopping anyone. Either way I really like the design. I just wish they came in something other than a chrome body. Maybe a black lug nut body in the future?

will these formula one lug nuts fit the oem 18"?

AK,

Simply take your wheels off at night and roll them into your house; leave your Z on blocks so any would be thieves will be thwarted.

lol...would be thieves scratching their headz around AK's car... :D

In the air? Eff that...I would put the .40 cal straight through his thieving little brain. We have a right to protect our property in Texas, even with lethal force. :tiphat:

You can shoot someone in the head at point blank range if they try to steal from you in texas?

Absolutely.

God Bless Texas!

AZ

thats pretty crazy. i guess it results in less stealing and more people getting shot.

And Arizona! We've got your back. :tup:

I'm moving to Texas!

I have closed numerous thread due to "I can shoot him in the head or stab him in the chest" posts etc. Please keep the thread on topic. I'll delete those posts from my thread. We are looking for "possible" solutions, not shooting someone.

:bowrofl:

I park in a garage - but when I dont I make sure I am soooo close to the edge of a curb that no one would be able to raise one side of the car... Also helps if you turn your wheel ALLL the way inside :p

As of now, it seems like there is NO lock on the market that will help protect our OEM wheels any better than the nissan(mcgard) locks. the only option are for aftermarket wheels. If you have aftermarket wheels with a conical seat, and the lug holes a certain depth/width, black tops wheel locks AKA Eurolocks will work in combination with the nismo lug nuts with a 17mm hex head . Other alternatives are the KYO Dency 2000 Magnetic wheel locks.

basically the only secure lock is one that leaves almost no room between the wall of the lug nut bore and the side of the locking lug or spins freely. Any room beyond 1-2mm and it doesn't matter whether it uses a 7 sided key, a laser carved random shape, or a fingerprint; it can be removed with a bolt remover.

here is my solution: This will only work on aftermarket wheels that require conical lug nuts. More specifically, your wheels must be the kind with relatively deep holes for the lug nuts and they have to be 29mm in diameter. You need 4 nismo lug nuts https://www.mynismo.com/products/?id=5360
and a set of black top wheel lucks QMR Motorsports

The nismo lug nuts give the 17mm hex head that the black tops require to fit over. The black tops fill up the entire lug nut mounting hole and therefore make it so someone can't just use a bolt remover to rip off your wheel lock.

Here are some pics.


If you guys need more details measurements of anything let me know.

This thread did not help me at all...
Has anyone found some good wheel locks for the sports package rims?

$100 deductible on comprehensive

holy necro

still no solutions ?

if you need to park outdoors, i suggest you get an aftermarket alarm with tilt sensor.

also if you're parking on your driveway (as in you own or your parents own the house), get a network camera with nightvision and activate motion detection between the hours you feel worried.

the best way, ofcourse, is to have your own garage and lock the garage.

With a BIG ass dog in there with the car.

Have anyone installed the tilt motion sensor? I want to know if it easy to set up

its very easy. you wire it to the door/hatch switch and a constant 12v. simple google search will help you