Locking lug nuts? Thoughts/Opinions?
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: CT
Locking lug nuts? Thoughts/Opinions?
We have a set of locking lug nuts on our IS which were provided by the dealer. These are the usual locking nuts (one locking nut replacing one regular lug nut per wheel) made by McGard with a "key" that fits over the nut and on a lug wrench.
I'm not too concerned with wheel theft since our car is usually in low-crime areas. I'm considering simply replacing the locking lug nuts for regular lug nuts, since IMHO, the locking nuts look terrible. I'd rather have a uniform set of lug nuts for aesthetic purposes. What do you guys think about this and the motivation behind it?
Can I buy lug nuts at the dealer, or are they strictly aftermarket parts?
Thanks for the input.
I'm not too concerned with wheel theft since our car is usually in low-crime areas. I'm considering simply replacing the locking lug nuts for regular lug nuts, since IMHO, the locking nuts look terrible. I'd rather have a uniform set of lug nuts for aesthetic purposes. What do you guys think about this and the motivation behind it?
Can I buy lug nuts at the dealer, or are they strictly aftermarket parts?
Thanks for the input.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: NOLA
Originally Posted by tgara
We have a set of locking lug nuts on our IS which were provided by the dealer. These are the usual locking nuts (one locking nut replacing one regular lug nut per wheel) made by McGard with a "key" that fits over the nut and on a lug wrench.
I'm not too concerned with wheel theft since our car is usually in low-crime areas. I'm considering simply replacing the locking lug nuts for regular lug nuts, since IMHO, the locking nuts look terrible. I'd rather have a uniform set of lug nuts for aesthetic purposes. What do you guys think about this and the motivation behind it?
Can I buy lug nuts at the dealer, or are they strictly aftermarket parts?
Thanks for the input.
I'm not too concerned with wheel theft since our car is usually in low-crime areas. I'm considering simply replacing the locking lug nuts for regular lug nuts, since IMHO, the locking nuts look terrible. I'd rather have a uniform set of lug nuts for aesthetic purposes. What do you guys think about this and the motivation behind it?
Can I buy lug nuts at the dealer, or are they strictly aftermarket parts?
Thanks for the input.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 0
From: CA
Yes, they sell the lugs at the dealer.
You are a picky personal just like me.
If you want as aesthetic as it can be, you should leave the lock-lugs on the wheels.
Because
1. Lexus uses only McGard, and McGard has the best quality if not looking at its weight aspect.
2. JDM Lex uses McGard also.
If it still bothers you, buy it and replace it. I think it is around $6 for a piece, and the OE lugs work only with OE wheels.
You are a picky personal just like me.
If you want as aesthetic as it can be, you should leave the lock-lugs on the wheels.
Because
1. Lexus uses only McGard, and McGard has the best quality if not looking at its weight aspect.
2. JDM Lex uses McGard also.
If it still bothers you, buy it and replace it. I think it is around $6 for a piece, and the OE lugs work only with OE wheels.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: CT
Originally Posted by josephdoc
Yes, they sell the lugs at the dealer.
You are a picky personal just like me.
If you want as aesthetic as it can be, you should leave the lock-lugs on the wheels.
Because
1. Lexus uses only McGard, and McGard has the best quality if not looking at its weight aspect.
2. JDM Lex uses McGard also.
If it still bothers you, buy it and replace it. I think it is around $6 for a piece, and the OE lugs work only with OE wheels.
You are a picky personal just like me.
If you want as aesthetic as it can be, you should leave the lock-lugs on the wheels.
Because
1. Lexus uses only McGard, and McGard has the best quality if not looking at its weight aspect.
2. JDM Lex uses McGard also.
If it still bothers you, buy it and replace it. I think it is around $6 for a piece, and the OE lugs work only with OE wheels.
http://www.radgmbh.com/eng_start.html
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: CT
Yeah, I'm picky. I guess I care about the details more than you guys do. 
How about these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-LI...12000202QQrdZ1
Instead of red, blue may be nice as a contrast to a white Lexus.
How about these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-LI...12000202QQrdZ1
Instead of red, blue may be nice as a contrast to a white Lexus.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 8
From: Oregon
Originally Posted by tgara
Yeah, I'm picky. I guess I care about the details more than you guys do.
How about these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-LI...12000202QQrdZ1
Instead of red, blue may be nice as a contrast to a white Lexus.
How about these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-LI...12000202QQrdZ1
Instead of red, blue may be nice as a contrast to a white Lexus.
Here's an idea: why don't you put up a classified ad and look for someone who will trade you straight across (reg lugs for the locking lugs.)
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 2
From: SC
My friend has an IS250 in the garage and she's missing the tool, wonder if she can use mine to remove her tire?
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
My friend has an IS250 in the garage and she's missing the tool, wonder if she can use mine to remove her tire?
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,102
Likes: 8
From: Hill Country, TX
My friend has an IS250 in the garage and she's missing the tool, wonder if she can use mine to remove her tire?
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: CA
McGard only has a few "unique" wheel locks. You can easily take a picture and e-mail it to McGard and they'll send you a new key in about a week. I have the McGard aftermarket lugs (the tuner ones) and one of the dealerships broke my key. I lost my serial number that came with my wheel locks but I was surprised that all I had to do was take a picture and e-mail it to McGard. I asked them how they could easily find my "unique" key from just a picture and I was told that there actually weren't that many "unique" keys out there. If it's the OEM McGard locks, you could probably go to your dealer and they'll probably have a key for you. Otherwise, just e-mail/call McGard and give them the serial # or a picture of the wheel lock. The only way you would get screwed is if you actually stripped the wheel lock pattern and NOT the key. Then no key would ever "fit" and then you would have to "break" the lock off.
Last edited by RshaoKh; Jun 22, 2009 at 09:01 PM.
i have the master keys OEM lexus... you can get them off sewell.. i work on friend's cars a lot so i have them.... and.... i am selling my Muteki lugs.... heheh... comes with bull locking lugs... so 16 piece of muteki lugs.. 4 bull locking lugs...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,001
Likes: 85
From: Southeastern PA
We have a set of locking lug nuts on our IS which were provided by the dealer. These are the usual locking nuts (one locking nut replacing one regular lug nut per wheel) made by McGard with a "key" that fits over the nut and on a lug wrench.
I'm not too concerned with wheel theft since our car is usually in low-crime areas. I'm considering simply replacing the locking lug nuts for regular lug nuts, since IMHO, the locking nuts look terrible. I'd rather have a uniform set of lug nuts for aesthetic purposes. What do you guys think about this and the motivation behind it?
Can I buy lug nuts at the dealer, or are they strictly aftermarket parts?
Thanks for the input.
I'm not too concerned with wheel theft since our car is usually in low-crime areas. I'm considering simply replacing the locking lug nuts for regular lug nuts, since IMHO, the locking nuts look terrible. I'd rather have a uniform set of lug nuts for aesthetic purposes. What do you guys think about this and the motivation behind it?
Can I buy lug nuts at the dealer, or are they strictly aftermarket parts?
Thanks for the input.
EDIT--OOPS! nice bump.
My friend has an IS250 in the garage and she's missing the tool, wonder if she can use mine to remove her tire?
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.
Does anyone know if the tool for the locking lug nuts is interchangeable?
Meaning could my friend borrow my tool to get their locking lug nut off? Or is the tool bolt/car specific, made only to work with the ones on each of the rims it comes with from the factory.