Factory wheel locks

[Ragnar]

What’s the consensus on leaving/removing the factory wheel locks on the Genesis?
Personally from my standpoint,my car spending 90% of its time in my garage the theft risk is extremely low therefore I don’t see the sense of having them on the car, and at my age I’m probably done changing a flat tire,just seems a hassle if my wife in her 70s has to try and help a service tech locate that idiot key to remove them.

 

[carguy75]

The wheel locks are just a good theft preventive item. I place my wheel lock key in the trunk inside the foam that hold the tools on the spare tire so it easy to find.

 

[timezoned]

What’s the consensus on leaving/removing the factory wheel locks on the Genesis?
Personally from my standpoint,my car spending 90% of its time in my garage the theft risk is extremely low therefore I don’t see the sense of having them on the car, and at my age I’m probably done changing a flat tire,just seems a hassle if my wife in her 70s has to try and help a service tech locate that idiot key to remove them.

I have 2 cars with that came with them. I feel they are more of a bother as like you, my car stays sheltered most of its life. I also am concerned about a) losing the lock key and b) stripping the lock key.
I took it off my primary car and haven't missed it.

 

[EdP]

The wheel locks are just a good theft preventive item. I place my wheel lock key in the trunk inside the foam that hold the tools on the spare tire so it easy to find.

Car thieves know to look in the glove box, the center consul, the spare tire well. You slowed them down a couple of minutes. If you are lucky, they will move on to an easier target, if determined, they are gone.

If I had a really nice set of aftermarket wheels I'd have two different locks and carry the keys. I don't have locks on my car but it is garaged and never left at long term parking where vulnerable.

 

[carguy75]

Car thieves know to look in the glove box, the center consul, the spare tire well. You slowed them down a couple of minutes. If you are lucky, they will move on to an easier target, if determined, they are gone.

If I had a really nice set of aftermarket wheels I'd have two different locks and carry the keys. I don't have locks on my car but it is garaged and never left at long term parking where vulnerable.

Hence, my statement of the locks being preventive. It just makes the job of taking the wheels harder for a thief just like any other lock. However it will not deter a very determined thief who main goal is to take your wheels with the proper skill.

I only use the OEM locks on my Genesis to make most thieves reconsider taking my property due to the extra work needed to take my wheels, but I also know that the locks can be easily taking off with a bolt extractor if a thief really wants my wheels.

On my Cadillac I use gorilla wheel locks that spin which make taking my 22in wheels very hard to do, but not impossible if the thief have the time to bypass the spinning lock by jamming it which takes a lot of work. I would upgrade my factory locks to the spinning locks on my Genesis if the stock wheels ever become a highly desired target for thieves which they are not now it seems so the OEM locks will work fine.

Spinning lock on my Escalade wheel.

 

[FlySwatter]

When I go in for my first tire rotation, I'm seriously considering just having the locking nuts replaced with ordinary ones. If I lived in Atlanta or Jacksonville, I might not feel that way.

 

[carguy75]

When I go in for my first tire rotation, I'm seriously considering just having the locking nuts replaced with ordinary ones. If I lived in Atlanta or Jacksonville, I might not feel that way.

To be honest, I do not believe that we as Genesis owners are real targets for auto thief other than the typical random incidents like property thief of items in the car. Our cars are not highly desired for parts or components like the stock wheels. It is still considered a Hyundai brand, which are not on the top of the list for desired cars for car thieves.

The Genesis looks nice, but it is not a highly desired car brand that would attract professional car thieves attention; so you would probably be fine not to use wheel locks since no one really would want to steal the stock wheels in large numbers.

I just use the wheel locks because they were already installed on my Genesis when I purchased it. Plus, the locks do give a bt of security just in case someone did decides to obtain some factory wheels to sell for quick cash if I park somewhere that would give them an opportunity. I do not want to make the job too easy for them.

 

[EdP]

To be honest, I do not believe that we as Genesis owners are real targets for auto thief other than the typical random incidents like property thief of items in the car. Our cars are not highly desired for parts or components like the stock wheels. It is still considered a Hyundai brand, which are not on the top of the list for desired cars for car thieves.

Supply and demand. The most stolen cars and the Civic and Accord. There are plenty of owners of those models looking for both body and engine parts. Genesis, not so much.

 

[Slowerthanslow]

Question. I just bought a G70 which has these wheel locks. But no one gave me a key for them, and I forgot to ask. Just to confirm: there should be some tool they should have given me for them, correct? If so, I'll contact the dealer I got the car from and ask where the tool is...

 

[EdP]

Question. I just bought a G70 which has these wheel locks. But no one gave me a key for them, and I forgot to ask. Just to confirm: there should be some tool they should have given me for them, correct? If so, I'll contact the dealer I got the car from and ask where the tool is...

Look in the trunk. It may be in a plastic package with the old nuts. Could be with the spare tire. The key looks like a socket.

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[J Dixon]

In my opinion, cars are more likely to be stolen than just a set of wheels. Too much exposure time. A set of wheel locks reduces the possibility even more. Of course, WHERE you leave the car has a lot of impact on this as well.
My wheel lock set blister pack has four standard lugs and the key in it. Tidy and sitting in the glove box, just as I bought it. I don't see a reason to do anything different. Every car we own with wheel locks has the key socket in the glove box.

 

[Nikhil Malhotra]

I dont like the wheel nuts . Look at the new tesla wheels have hub caps.
The next generation 2020 G90 has very different wheels.

I was searching for Wheel Center Hub caps for the 18 inch tires on the 2015 Genesis 3.8 .
Are there any available ?

Some of these on ebay look like they are for generation 1 cars.

 

[Slowerthanslow]

Look in the trunk. It may be in a plastic package with the old nuts. Could be with the spare tire. The key looks like a socket.

Great! Thanks, yes they are in a little bag attached to the spare wheel tool... I like your point that, in a way, having the locks is an invitation to thieves to break into your car and trunk looking for the tool... really doesn't make a lot of sense to have these things on, I think, since you have to keep the tool somewhere in the car for your own use to change a flat...

 

[EdP]

Great! Thanks, yes they are in a little bag attached to the spare wheel tool... I like your point that, in a way, having the locks is an invitation to thieves to break into your car and trunk looking for the tool... really doesn't make a lot of sense to have these things on, I think, since you have to keep the tool somewhere in the car for your own use to change a flat...

Slows down the 12 year olds. Same with locking your doors.

My friend had her locked and alarmed car stolen from where it was parked about 12 feet from the window in her office.
A TV show doing a piece on car theft had an ex-pro steal a car on a busy NYC street with traffic and people walking by. They videoed from cross the street. No one noticed and the car was gone as fast as we would with a key.

 

[FastEddie]

That’s what I have insurance for. On the extreme chance my wheels get stolen I pay my $100 deductible ($40 more than locking lug nuts) and I get brand new wheels and tires. Problem solved.