Wheel locks - choosing the best - Za Rulem magazine
We naively thought that the times when parked cars were “undressed” were forever in the past. But no, history repeats itself. Only the stakes have increased: it’s not the wipers that are being removed, but the headlights and wheels. And if everything is not simple with the headlights, then wheel locks can save your shoes. At least the thieves will definitely have more trouble. And there is a chance that they will go looking for easier prey.
Let’s figure out which of the “secret” fastener kits sold on the market will cope with their task better than others.
| When buying a set of security locks, it is better to take the one that contains a pair of keys. You can keep one at home or in the garage, and take the other with you. It is highly advisable not to store it in plain sight. There are cases when wheel thieves first broke the windows in the hope that the key was in the glove box. Do not store the key next to the tank: this is the second place where thieves look. Sometimes they simply puncture one of the wheels and watch from the side where the angry owner will reach to get the key and put on the spare tire. |
Simpler or more cunning?
When choosing wheel locks, many people ask the question: what to do if the key is lost? Maybe buy something very simple that can be used with a regular screwdriver? But it’s the same as locking the door and hanging the key on a nail next to it! Secret fasteners must resist hacking attempts as much as possible - this is its main task. And the owner does not need to scatter the keys anywhere.
| Secret bolts. Model I-1 (SL) Secret bolts. Model I-1 (SL) | Without title and packaging Without title and packaging |
| The approximate price of the set is 1200 rubles. The weight of one bolt is 90 g. For ease of use, the keys are equipped with plastic guide bushings. But overall the set did not excite me. The code element in the shape of a small-toothed star easily yielded to a powerful slotted screwdriver. | The approximate price of the set is 1200 rubles. The weight of one bolt is 40 g. You can’t confuse titanium with anything: it is light. Secrets made of this metal are not afraid of corrosion. It was not possible to mechanically compress the bushing with a gas wrench in order to unscrew it. But, unfortunately, the nice bolts gave in when the twelve-sided head was driven in “16”. |
| Secret bolts. Model I-1 (SL) Secret bolts. Model I-1 (SL) | Without title and packaging Without title and packaging |
| Starleks Wheel LocksStarleks Wheel Locks | Matrix Wheel Locks Matrix Wheel Locks |
| The approximate price of the set is 1000 rubles. The weight of one bolt is 81 g. I didn’t like the set. The bushing is very flimsy and immediately cracked. Then we stuff the head on top - alas, it’s opened. And on a steel disk, a pipe wrench helped to deal with the lock. | The approximate price of the set is 530 rubles. The weight of one bolt is 68 g. The cheapest products in our sample will surrender to a thief with almost no resistance. The simplest pentagon without a protective sleeve was opened by stuffing it on top of a standard head. |
| Starleks Wheel LocksStarleks Wheel Locks | Matrix Wheel Locks Matrix Wheel Locks |
We decided to buy everything that the Moscow market offers. Restrictions were introduced only for the standard size of the secrets. We settled on the popular group of cars on the B0 platform - this includes Logan, Sandero, Duster, Almera, Largus, XRAY.
The choice turned out to be limited: there were only eight suitable sets. Moreover, if six of them are bolts, then the other two are nuts. Why were nuts needed? Consider this our optional offer, with details in the Hairpin section.
| Drinty Wheel Locks Drinty Wheel Locks | Drinty Wheel Locks Drinty Wheel Locks |
| The approximate price of the set is 1040 rubles. The weight of one nut and stud is 65 and 38 g. To unscrew a nut of this kind, just drive a screwdriver into the code slot of the nut. The second option is to use a gas wrench. Resistance to burglary is mediocre. | The approximate price of the set is 1010 rubles. The weight of one bolt is 77 g. They were able to cope with the closest relatives of the secret nuts of the same name using the same algorithm - they surrendered to both a screwdriver and a gas wrench. |
| Drinty Wheel Locks Drinty Wheel Locks | Drinty Wheel Locks Drinty Wheel Locks |
| McGard Ultra High SecurityMcGard Ultra High Security | UntitledUntitled |
| The approximate price of the set is 3150 rubles. The weight of one bolt is 75 g. The most expensive set justified the price: it is the best in all respects. The ring does not allow turning the lock with a gas wrench, the chisel also failed. Such fasteners are usually overcome by welding or using an extractor inserted into the drilled hole. The low protrusions of the ring will not allow you to securely hammer in the special puller - when you try to unscrew the lock, the tool turns outward. | The approximate price of the set is 1040 rubles. The weight of one nut is 80 g. The star, as one would expect, succumbed to the “persuasions” of a powerful slotted screwdriver. |
| McGard Ultra High SecurityMcGard Ultra High Security | UntitledUntitled |
Check and choose
Sellers of secrets talk about the dominance of inexpensive Chinese products and the almost complete absence of exclusive, difficult-to-open secrets made by domestic craftsmen. Of the eight sets purchased, only six had packaging - two were simply sold in plastic bags.
Crooks often use the so-called tapping method - they hit the secrets with a hammer, thus trying to loosen them. Let's check if the method works. Tightening torque: 100 Nm. We hit the secret with a hammer. After tapping, measure the unscrewing torque. It really decreased - to 80 Nm.
Crooks often use the so-called tapping method - they hit the secrets with a hammer, thus trying to loosen them. Let's check if the method works. Tightening torque: 100 Nm. We hit the secret with a hammer. After tapping, measure the unscrewing torque. It really decreased - to 80 Nm.
The stud helps center the wheel during installation work. Therefore, when installing the locks, you can do the following “tuning” - use one stud on each wheel. After installing the studs, you can move on to the locking nuts.
The stud helps center the wheel during installation work. Therefore, when installing the locks, you can do the following “tuning” - use one stud on each wheel. After installing the studs, you can move on to the locking nuts.
We tested each product on both a steel disc and a cast one. In addition to the main parameters, cryptographic strength was checked. No, no, we didn’t help the crooks - they already know everything. A situation may simply arise in which the owner himself turns out to be the burglar.
| If a pipe wrench grabs a bolt, it will almost certainly overpower it. In our case, the locks that did not have a powerful protective sleeve gave up. If a pipe wrench grabs a bolt, it will almost certainly overcome it. In our case, the locks that did not have a powerful protective sleeve gave up. | No explanation is needed for this method. Loud, rude, indelicate, but often helps. No explanation is needed for this method. Loud, rude, indelicate, but often helps. |
| If the disk is cast, then tightening the remaining fasteners with the maximum possible torque can help unscrew the lock from which you lost the original key. In this case, the lock should loosen. If the disk is cast, then unscrewing the lock from which you lost the original key can be helped by tightening the remaining fasteners with the maximum possible torque. In this case, the secret should loosen. | The once fashionable universal tool disappointed us: it couldn’t work with any set of locks. And in the end it broke, leaving some of the rods recessed due to misalignment. The once fashionable universal tool disappointed us: it did not work with any set of locks. And in the end it broke, leaving some of the rods recessed due to misalignment. |
As usual, we expressed our opinion about each product in the photo gallery. The clear winner was the McGard Ultra High Security set: it resists hacking much better than others. And some secrets can be unscrewed almost with a screwdriver.
By the way, the results of a survey we conducted during the preparation of the material showed that the majority of readers do not use secrets, because “they will steal it anyway”! And only a third of those surveyed said that they always use branded “secret” fasteners. Apparently, until the thunder strikes, the man will not cross himself.
| The barbaric way to unscrew a stubborn security bolt is to drill a hole and then use a suitable extractor. The barbaric way to unscrew a stubborn security bolt is to drill a hole and then use a suitable extractor. | Nice titanium bolts gave up pretty quickly: a suitable socket head fit snugly onto the head. Nice titanium bolts gave up pretty quickly: a suitable socket head fit snugly onto the head. |
| The protective sleeve protects against being grabbed by a pipe wrench, but can give in to brute force. The bushing has given up - the result is close. The protective bushing saves you from being grabbed by a pipe wrench, but can give in to brute force. The bushing has given up - the result is close. | |
| If the tip of a suitable tool such as a powerful screwdriver fits into the head of the lock, then half the job is done: it will probably unscrew! If the tip of a suitable tool such as a powerful screwdriver fits into the head of the lock, then half the job is done: it will probably unscrew! |
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| If the wheels are secured with nuts rather than bolts, it is more convenient to mount them: protruding studs help to quickly install the wheel in its rightful place, since it is much easier to orient it. Therefore, when replacing standard bolts with locking bolts, many people prefer to screw a stud into the hub, placing it on a threaded anaerobic adhesive-sealant. Food for thought. The secret lock served on the editorial machine for more than eight years. During this time, the standard nuts developed deformation of the cone part, but it is still intact. Moral: do not believe fairy tales that all secrets are “disposable.” Food for thought. The secret lock served on the editorial machine for more than eight years. During this time, the standard nuts developed deformation of the cone part, but it is still intact. Moral: do not believe fairy tales that all secrets are “disposable”. |
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Source: https://www.zr.ru/content/articles/905065-zasekrechennoe-koleso/
Choosing wheel locks - DRIVE2
Nobody wants to lose an expensive alloy wheel, so lockers - special bolts and nuts that can only be unscrewed using the supplied adapter wrench - are very popular. But what if you lost this key?
Don’t repeat it on other people’s cars – it’s dangerous!
Author's warning
The problem of theft of wheels, especially rare and expensive ones, is very old and faces not only Russian car owners. Suffice it to recall the 1963 Polish film “Gangsters and Philanthropists.”
In it, a meticulously planned robbery of the century went wrong because, while the gang was waiting in the car for a signal, other crooks quietly twisted all four wheels off it... In general, secrets in the form of special wheel nuts, and later special bolts, have always been popular.
Except that previously you had to order them from a familiar turner at a defense plant, but now they lie on the shelves, shining with the chrome of numerous, sometimes rather tricky, edges.
We purchased the Magnificent Seven locking bolt kits to see if the wheel could be removed if we lost the included adapter key. The set of available tools was not limited: the main thing in our experiment is not time, but accuracy of work. The wheel, naturally, should not have been damaged.
Note that for stamped steel wheels there would be other, simpler methods, but in light-alloy wheels the bolt heads are usually deeply recessed in the wells, so you can’t get to them with a common pipe wrench. For the same reason, powerful pliers, a hammer and a chisel disappeared.
But a set of standard and not so standard heads, a drill, a good drill and a hardened extractor is what you need for cultural work.
Let's say right away that even the most reliable products gave up in 15 minutes. True, in extreme cases we used a drill, which is something that attackers cannot do under all conditions. Nevertheless, the results were interesting.
Set of bolts M14 × 1.5 Lock your wheels
Manufacturer - wishes to remain anonymous Estimated price for 4 bolts and 2 adapter keys - 800 rubles.
Secrecy is ensured by unevenly spaced five semicircular bosses on the cylindrical head of the bolt. After carefully looking at this product, we decided not to grab the drill, but to try to pick up a standard hex head. The one “at 19” came up. Light taps with a hammer - and it sat tightly on the head. It didn't turn when unscrewing. Bolts M14 × 1.5
Manufacturer - wishes to remain anonymous Estimated price for a bolt and adapter key - 75 rubles.
These bolts, sold individually, are internally socketed. To unscrew them, I also didn’t have to drill anything - a Torx-T60 wrench worked. The second bolt was removed using an appropriately sized extractor. Bolts M14 × 1.5
Manufacturer - wishes to remain anonymous Estimated price for a bolt and adapter key - 75 rubles.
They are also sold individually and are even more primitive than the previous ones: the head has an internal hexagon “12”. We decided to save money and did not even purchase an adapter key. Obviously, it is quite easy to find a suitable L-shaped wrench. That's what we did. The second option is to choose the right size extractor. Bolt set M14 × 1.5 TPI Wheel Locks Premium Protection
Manufacturer - Taper Pro Industrial, Taiwan Estimated price for 4 bolts and 2 adapter keys - 1000 rubles.
Everything is serious here: a very complex uneven profile, an ISO certificate, instructions in Russian, a reminder sticker with the key code number. To unscrew it, I had to drill out the core, which took 10 minutes - the metal turned out to be quite soft. Then the extractor helped. Set of bolts M14 × 1.5 “Wheel fastening”
Manufacturer - Hong Sheng Approximate price for 4 bolts and 2 adapter keys - 900 rubles.
The length of the threaded part of these bolts is 40 mm. There is a rotating ring on the outside of the head so that there is no temptation to use pliers.
There is an ISO certificate, high-strength Japanese steel from Sumitomo is promised. Whether it’s true or not, the drill easily dealt with the core, and then... a standard “14” hexagon fit.
Lost time – the same 10 minutes. SELECTION OF ZR Bolt set M14 × 1.5 “Wheel locking kit”
Manufacturer – Italy Estimated price for 4 bolts and an adapter key – 2400 rubles.
The high price of the set can be explained simply: this is an original Volkswagen accessory and is also recommended for Audi, SEAT, and Skoda cars. The highly complex profile is protected by a removable plastic cap.
To remove the latter, the kit includes a special hook, but a piece of wire with a bent end will also work. Here the steel is actually high-strength - no matter what drill can handle it.
But the carbide removed the core in 15 minutes, and then the “12” square came up. SELECTION OF ZR Set of bolts M14 × 1.5 “Wheel locks”
Manufacturer - China, under the supervision of Japan Sumitomo Industrial. Estimated price for 4 bolts and 2 adapter keys - 900 rubles.
These bolts are equipped with a protective rotating ring, which alone prevents access to the profile with seven unevenly spaced rectangular protrusions. Oh, if only I could squeeze the head! It's a pity, the disk wells are in the way. I had to drill, and with a high-strength drill: the steel here is truly “Japanese”! The work took 15 minutes, then the extractor came to the rescue.
Source: https://www.drive2.com/b/2361548/
What are the best locks for wheels, alloy wheels, reviews
Car wheel locks look primarily like bolts or nuts that secure the wheel to the car hub. They differ from the standard bolts that secure wheels at the factory in that they have a more shaped head for a special key.
The standard set, which can be purchased at any automotive store, includes bolts or nuts, depending on the specific car model, in the amount of 4 pieces, plus one spare element just in case. The set also contains the same special key with which you will unscrew the wheels when changing tires for the season or for tire fitting.
All that remains is to decide which wheel locks are best and purchase the appropriate option for your car.
Existing types of bolts
Manufacturers identify the following types with which you can protect your wheels from theft:
- Curly.
- Polygons.
- Hole bolts.
Let's look at the options in order and find out what advantages each of them has. So, as you know, bolts have heads with a certain number of turnkey edges. Secrets of the first type are made of a non-standard shape with a special key.
Keys may have curved lines, bends and breaks - everything so that classic keys will not fit. How complex the figure will be depends on the manufacturer.
It should be borne in mind that the better the protective measures, the more expensive the secrets will cost you.
The second type of fastenings resembles the classic versions of fastenings for hex keys. But the difference here is that the number of key grooves is more than eight, which is more than in a regular tool. Often such wheel mounts are made individually, and the future owner himself chooses how many grooves there will be.
The last version of the bolts is called perforated, because its shape contains special holes that are necessary for connecting the key to the head. Often, figured and perforated security options are combined to make the secret even more secure. If possible, it is advisable to choose this option.
Tips for choosing secrets
You should know that the most unsuccessful in terms of protection against theft are bolts with conical heads. They stand out because they have a relatively small key hole diameter.
Because of this, when applying the force necessary to unscrew the wheel, the key often falls off. The cheapest wheel locks of this type can cause a lot of difficulties for the car owner.
Now you know which options are better not to purchase for yourself.
In addition, do not buy fasteners that are too angular, in the form of polyhedrons or asterisks.
Sharp corners are quickly licked off, and other options are easy to pick up from the classic keys most thieves have.
In order not to damage the wheels, it is better to refrain from using additional levers and wrenches in the process of screwing and unscrewing the wheels. This can damage not only the secret mount, but also the hub itself.
Choosing a Good Security Bolt
So, in order to choose good bolts, you should know that the lock must have a special ring - a shell. This ring rotates around the head when the bolt is pulled tight to the hub.
The presence of this ring allows you to be sure that the bolt will not be grabbed with a gas wrench and they will not try to unscrew the wheels in this way.
It is most important to take care of stamped wheels with expensive tires, since in cast and titanium wheels the fasteners are recessed inside and there is no way to grab them. In addition, good bolts should have the following positive aspects:
- The head must be as low as possible.
- The bolt itself must be made of durable material and not corrode.
- The head should contain a minimum of holes and grooves, as dirt will get inside.
Difficulties during dismantling
Often, owners of wheel locks encounter certain difficulties when removing wheels. Most often, the problem is not due to the fact that the special key that fits these bolts has been lost, but because the fastening head has been licked off. This happens for various reasons:
- If the bolt did not move for a long time, it could become stuck. You try to unscrew it with a little more force. As a result, the edges of the bolt become licked off.
- The secret was of an extremely complex shape, and the curves and technical patterns made there do not have any strength as such. A little more force and the shape breaks.
- Awful quality. China is a large manufacturer of secrets, and those who want to save money buy goods from there. But here you can expect a breakdown every day - there is no sense of reliability here.
It is important to note the fact that these problems can be avoided by purchasing high-quality options.
Solving problems with dismantling
Universal head
The easiest way to deal with such a problem will be for those who have become the owner of Chinese-made bolts. If your bolt head has been licked off, then look for a slightly smaller socket head and try to hammer it in from above with a hammer. This will take you a lot of time, but Chinese bolts made of soft metal allow this to be done.
The situation is a little worse - when the unique key is lost. If you have ordinary stamped disks, then you can try to change the shape of the head for a different key or cut off the head and then drill out the base of the bolt. If the discs are alloy and the head goes deep inside, then you will have to go to where you bought the locks and order a new key.
Source: http://AutoLirika.ru/aksessuary/kak-vybrat-sekretki-dlya-koles.html
How to choose the right wheel locks
Surely, each of you has come across various kinds of offers to purchase “almost new rims” at a “tasty” price. As a rule, sellers of such goods are 90% former prisoners or local drug addicts who need at least some quick money.
In addition, it is not in vain that they say that demand creates supply. Many car enthusiasts want to ride on cool wheels, but they don’t have enough money for new rollers. Various Internet sites and forums are literally full of various offers for the sale of used wheels in good condition.
Have you ever wondered where they come from?! Of course, most of these advertisements are posted by real owners, but there is also a very high risk of running into stolen disks. As a buyer, you don't really care. If only the price was good.
It’s bad in this case for the one who found his car standing on bricks in the morning.
This raises a logical question: is there a method to protect your iron horse from this type of assassination attempt? Of course there are many options. But one of the most effective is wheel locks.
Locks are special wheel bolts with a non-standard head, which can only be unscrewed with a special key. Once upon a time, motorists made secrets with their own hands, but today there is no need for this. Factory-made security bolts are made much more reliably and look much more attractive than homemade ones.
There are several types of secrets, or rather head configurations:
- Asymmetrical - in the form of scalene, irregular polygons. Other name options: cap or internal spline lock. The number of splines can vary from 8 to the number specified by the customer. Often there can be 30-40 pieces.
- Eccentric - the internal and external contours are offset relative to each other;
- Curly - the head of the secretory is made in the form of a complex figure with curved lines. The degree of difficulty can be different (medium or advanced).
- Perforated - several holes in the internal contour for counter protrusions at the key;
- Combined - a combination of figured and perforated profiles. They have a high degree of protection.
What should not be done with secrets and which secrets are better not to use:
1. When screwing the security bolt, do not use key extensions or levers. This may cause the bolt itself to break. Also, do not tighten the lock with a bolt gun. It can damage the disc itself and the hub.
2. It is very important to remember that when installing a wheel, the wheel lock is screwed in last, and when dismantling, it is unscrewed first. Compliance with this rule will protect you from intruders who will not be able to relieve the pressure of the lock, even after tightening the other bolts all the way.
3. When choosing a security bolt, you should not buy those that have corner protrusions and grooves stamped in the form of stars and polyhedrons. It is very easy to select a spanner or socket wrench for them.
4. The most unsuccessful security bolt is considered to be the one with a conical head. Such secrets have a small hole diameter. In this regard, the special key constantly flies off after applying a certain force. Sometimes it is easier to tighten/unscrew such secrets with a universal key than with a special one.
So which secrets should you choose?!
The reliability of a security nut is determined by several criteria:
- A reliable secret key must have a movable protective ring, which eliminates the possibility of using open-end or gas keys, chisels and sledgehammers. When a bolt or nut is tightened, the protective ring rotates freely and prevents forceful gripping from the outside. This is especially true on “stamping” wheels, while alloy wheels allow you to “drown” the seal directly into the disk; the protective ring in this case does not play a special role
- The head of the security bolt must be low enough.
- The material from which the secret is made must have increased strength.
- The bolt mechanism itself should not have too many grooves, holes and slots in which moisture and dirt accumulate.
It is also important to remember that this kind of anti-theft remedy can also turn against the owner of the car. Very often, drivers encounter difficulties when twisting the secret. And the main reason for this is not the banal loss of a special key (a duplicate can be ordered), but the likelihood of the bolt head breaking off. What could lead to this?
This is what a set of original Nissan secret locks looks like
The most basic thing is the “Chinese” quality of the lock. The proverb “the miser pays twice” comes into play here. As you know, our people want both more reliable and cheaper. This is not the option.
The next reason is the individual patterns in the form of slots and roundings on the bolts, which are unreliable. Often such patterns lead to failure due to their shape.
And the most common reason is the “sticking” of the secret. If you apply more than 5-7 kg of force to such a bolt, the head will break off.
Let's summarize. When choosing a lock, pay attention to the following: the bolt must be made with high quality and reliability, and the option for unscrewing the wheel must be very difficult. In addition, the security bolt must clearly correspond to the wheel fastener (in length, thread pitch and height).
Source: http://veddro.com/2017/06/kak-pravilno-vyibrat-sekretki-dlya-koles/
Wheel locks: which ones are better to choose?
Hello everyone, dear blog subscribers! Andrey Kulpanov is in touch, and I am pleased to offer you a new, super interesting and practical topic for dialogue.
Many of our fellow citizens prefer to store their cars in the courtyards of multi-storey buildings - it’s cheaper and the car is always at hand. It is not surprising that attackers are not asleep either.
I would call one of the biggest troubles when you go out into the yard in the morning and the car is standing without wheels, with no shoes on. Wheel locks will help protect you from such situations, and now let’s talk about this in more detail.
What are security bolts?
First of all, I note that this design is nothing more than a special bolt that cannot be unscrewed with a regular wrench.
This is the so-called “secret”, or in other words, a non-standard head, to unscrew it you will need a special key.
I’ll say right away that installing cheap bolts is unreasonable, since car thieves can rip them off with a gas wrench. The antidote to them is secrets with a protective ring at the top, which does not allow throwing a gas key on them.
The optimal set is the following, which includes 4 bolts and a pair of keys. If one is lost (which happens quite often), the driver will have a spare duplicate.
If you purchase an expensive set, it contains a unique combination and is numbered. They use a special protective design.
And if you add high-strength metals to this, it is not surprising that they are considered practically invulnerable.
Any secret must fulfill its main function, namely, be inconvenient for attackers. Typically, its design includes a protective ring that can be easily rotated. It is almost impossible to remove the wheel and first the secret mechanism outside a specialized car service center.
Before purchasing, you need to evaluate and compare the sizes of the mounting holes on the disks. Drivers forget about this, and already at home they discover an unpleasant fact: the secret nut or bolt does not fit into the mounting hole, although the regular one fits in easily.
To avoid getting into this situation, you need to measure all dimensions in advance with a caliper.
What to watch out for
Now let's look at which bolts you should not buy, and what problems may arise during their use. Let me start with the fact that any perfect nut and bolt ceases to be effective when it becomes clogged with dirt and debris. The mechanism stops functioning normally, and even the owner of the machine himself is often unable to twist the protection.
You should not buy bolts with a tapered head. Its hole diameter is too small. Even a special key will constantly fly off it, especially if you apply significant force. Sometimes a special key can’t do anything, but a universal one helps. On the other hand, any attacker can use it and steal expensive “light alloys”.
Another point that directly relates to the operation of wheels with protection. The service life will depend on the quality of the head and the metal from which it is made.
Many car enthusiasts like to use all kinds of extension cords to remove a stuck bolt. In the case of secrets, it is not recommended to do this.
In most attempts this will break the defense mechanism.
Choosing the right secrets
What characteristics should good secrets have so that they can become reliable protection against intruders:
- be equipped with a protective ring;
- have a fairly low bolt head that cannot be cut off;
- be made of durable metals or alloys;
- have no holes or grooves, and also have a simple design.
Other useful tips from this area
Another point that may help keep the wheels of your car safe and sound. Experienced drivers do not recommend buying protective bolts in your locality.
Local car thieves and criminals may be familiar with the principle of its operation, and therefore can easily take off your vehicle.
They can move around the yards, carrying a package of adapters for secret lockers, and calmly choose the right one.
You definitely need to pay attention to the question of where to store the special key. If the rims are of particular value, then thieves who fail to twist them can easily open the trunk or break the glass in search of it.
Selecting a place to store the key is also important, because most drivers keep it in the same place as a classic wheel wrench. It is best to store it either at home or on a special rack in the garage, but be sure to do so so that you don’t forget it later.
Therefore, despite the opening of the trunk and other possible troubles, the wheels of your car will remain in place.
In a word, dear blog readers, not a single mechanism provides 100% protection and a guarantee that you can sleep peacefully. Nevertheless, secret bolts can be called a fairly reliable protective structure against non-professionals. They will help protect expensive car rims.
Decide for yourself which secrets you should buy, but I wrote general recommendations on this topic above. If we continue the topic of car wheels, then pay attention to materials on the topics: is there any point in buying all-season tires and what is the “beauty” of low-profile tires. That's all for today.
We'll hear from you soon!
Sincerely, blog author Andrey Kulpanov
Source: http://avto-kul.ru/ekspluatatsiya-avtomobilya/sekretki-na-kolesa.html
How to choose secrets?
Some consider sekretki a relic of Soviet times. But only until they see their car standing without wheels. We talk about all the nuances of this inconspicuous but irreplaceable accessory.
A little theory
As an introduction, let us remind you that “secrets” are wheel nuts or bolts that have a non-standard profile, which can only be unscrewed using the appropriate key. Among the main types of security profiles, we can name such as “holes”, “corrugation”, “eccentric” and “curly”, as well as their combinations.
The most famous in our country are eccentric profile locks, which in Soviet times were made to order by motorists from familiar turners at factories. A nut or bolt head with such a profile consists of two cylindrical elements, one of which is centered relative to the thread, and the second is offset to the side, due to which tightening is carried out.
The main advantage of such a lock is the low requirement for the quality of steel, which, in fact, made it possible to produce them in a semi-handicraft way.
But for mass industrial production, eccentric locks are poorly suited, since giving each nut or bolt unique parameters requires almost individual work with each set manually. And there are relatively few options for “individualization” here.
Therefore, today such secrets have become rare, and the eccentric profile is found mainly in combination with others.
Secrets with a profile in the form of holes have been known on our market for quite a long time. Here, three or four asymmetrically located shallow holes are made in the round head of the bolt, into which the corresponding key with spikes fits. There is also the opposite option - spikes at the bottom of the hole in the head of the bolt and a key with holes.
Main types of security profiles
These are already secrets of industrial production - it is difficult and expensive to make such things for an “individual order”.
And there is no need - modern production allows you to customize the line so that the sets receive unique parameters and the key from one does not fit the other.
By changing the diameter of the holes and their location, this is not a problem in production. The “spikes-holes” option is often combined with an eccentric.
No less familiar to the Russian buyer are secret lockers with a corrugated profile. Here, the round head of a bolt or nut has longitudinal knurling, applied in an industrial way - less than a millimeter depressed grooves and protruding parallel serrations, in the manner of a gear with fine teeth. The opposite option is also possible - corrugation in the hole on the bolt head.
HEYNER StillBull secret. The fine grooved profile of high-precision manufacturing and the deep fit in the disk make it impossible to get close to the nut and unscrew it with any tool other than the supplied wrench.
In industrial production, this profile provides great opportunities for creating individual sets - due to the combination of larger and smaller protrusions on the grooved part, as well as a slight change in the diameter of the bolt or nut head.
And finally, as a progressive option, which has now gained wide distribution and popularity, there are secrets with a figured profile.
Here, an irregularly shaped closed shallow groove is applied on the head of the bolt or on the nut around the perimeter - for example, in the form of a star with rounded rays, a maple leaf, a butterfly, etc. The key has a protruding profile of the same shape.
This option provides ample opportunities for giving the secrets individual parameters, but at the same time requires the use of modern precision industrial equipment.
HEYNER ChromeSafe. The unique figured profile and powerful support ring provide high cryptographic resistance. The central chrome cap does not carry a force load and serves to protect the threads from moisture and the aesthetics of the product.
Locks intended for discs with shallow fasteners (for example, stamped steel) are often equipped with an external freely rotating ring that prevents the pipe wrench from being grabbed. In turn, for disks with deep-seated fasteners, where the socket cannot be approached from the side, such a ring is not required.
What will ensure cryptographic strength?
In terms of cryptographic strength, all “secret profiles” have approximately equal capabilities - the overall thoughtfulness of the geometry and the degree of uniqueness of each set are important here.
Reliable, high-quality locks are developed in such a way that even a slight difference in parameters does not allow the use of a key from another set, even of the same model - just like with door locks.
It is no coincidence that the sets of large manufacturers always contain an individual number, by which, in case of loss of the complete one, you can order an additional key.
In general, as with any product, the quality and reliability of security locks directly depends on the level of production. Only large manufacturers have equipment that allows you to flexibly change the geometry parameters of the secrets.
What various Chinese and similar factories, which only copy popular models, are incapable of doing.
But they are not able to provide individuality to the sets, and they do not strive for this, trying to simply play on the price.
Therefore, reliable secrets from well-known manufacturers, by definition, cannot have a low price, since the cost of their production, even in terms of “individualization” of the kits, is quite high.
HEYNER StillBull 650 socket set. Made of impact-resistant 10.9 steel and withstands torque up to 260 Nm. Price – 1590 rub.
The metal from which the locks are made plays a big role in the price of the product. High-quality steel, resistant to deformation and corrosion, cannot be cheap by definition. Thus, the various budget options are likely made from soft, corrosion-prone, low-grade steel. And the main problem here is not even cryptographic strength.
About metal
Anyone who has repaired equipment knows how difficult it can be to unscrew a nut with jammed “rounded” corners. But the contact area of a standard hexagon is larger than in the pair “secret - original key”. Thus, by purchasing cheap secrets made from low-quality soft metal, you can pose an insurmountable task not even to the attackers, but to yourself.
The “secret-key” pair, made of “plasticine” steel, will gradually deform when unscrewing and tightening and “at some point” will turn. Corrosion also makes its contribution here, steadily “eating away” at the contact area.
Tire locks are subjected to especially extreme tests at tire shops. The pneumatic impact wrench creates a sharp, strong load, which is why the contact points of the “secret-key” pair can be instantly completely deformed. After which, what remains on the wheel is no longer a secret lock, but simply a permanent nut or bolt.
Most likely, the owner himself will have to solve the problem. The cost of removing the seal at a service station is from 2,000 rubles, depending on its design and seating depth in the disk. By the way, removal is quite simple: weld a metal rod or a piece of pipe of suitable diameter and unscrew it.
But what if the secret turns out not at a tire shop, but after a while when trying to change a tire somewhere far from civilization, where you can’t call a tow truck? This adventure will be remembered for a long time.
Set of HEYNER ChromeSafe PRO security guards. They are made from an alloy with chrome-molybdenum components and can withstand a torque of 400 Nm, which allows the use of the most powerful air impact wrenches. Price – 3800 rub.
What's the result?
Secrets are an accessory for those who drive good wheels and tires, but do not want to spend money on an expensive alarm system. Secrets for those who leave their car unattended in the wild while going hiking in the surrounding area, fishing, etc. And saving on secrets here is the same as saving on matches.
No matter how attractive in appearance and price the products of unknown companies may be, they can do more harm than good.
You need to choose among reputable European manufacturers, besides whom, in fact, no one else knows how to make high-quality, reliable secrets.
The high cryptographic strength of the design, the uniqueness of the “key” of the set, and durable steel are the guarantee that the secret will live up to its name.
Source: https://dvizhok.su/accessories/kak-vyibrat-sekretki
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