Do I need wheel locking nuts?

kimwp

2010? Honda Jazz. I ended up unexpectedly taking my car to a different garage and they said that they were surprised to find there was no locking nut when they went to replace the broken drivers side drive shaft. I was in a hurry at the time, so didn't think to ask, but do I need one? From the internet, it seems to be more about stopping people pinching alloys than safety.

DullGreyGuy

Yes, they're security not safety.

cymruchris

If your alloy wheels are something amazingly expensive, unique and flashy - you might get a set. If they are the bog standard ones that came with the car back in 2010 - I wouldn't bother. The theft of alloy wheels isn't what it used to be.

forgotmyname

Chucked my locking wheelnuts in the bin the day after I bought the car. Seen so many failures of the locking nuts
or the tool supplied to remove them I was not going to take the risk.

Tools are available to remove them and often faster than using the key/tool.  Did a cambelt for a family friend and they
went to search for the key and make a cup of tea.  Brought the tea out and said they are still looking for the key.

He didn't even notice I had the wheel off and sitting on it already.

Green_hopeful

My mum lost three wheel nuts out of five on a trip recently. The locking nut was gone as well. I think someone was trying to steal her wheels. The car was in the garage a few days before she went so I checked with the garage and they had cctv footage of the nuts going back on. They even had a second person checking at the same time so it can only be someone deliberately taking them off. Anyway the locking nut was gone so I guess it didn’t bother them. 

flaneurs_lobster

Green_hopeful said:

My mum lost three wheel nuts out of five on a trip recently. The locking nut was gone as well. I think someone was trying to steal her wheels. 

Are the wheels/car particularly expensive? I thought wheel theft for the alloys had all but stopped once the things became ubiquitous. 

kimwp

Thank you everyone. I don't think they are fancy ones, so I'll just leave it.