Lug Nuts

If you have a flat on one of your tires, you unscrew the lug nuts and change tyres. Simple enough? No, not when the lug nuts need lug nut key. Read this to see how wheel locks (special lug nuts which can be only opened by lug nut key) can land you in trouble.

I did not know this either until a month back when I took my car to my car dealer for wheel balancing. The previous owner of the car had put special enkei wheels on the car and to protect his investment, he had put wheel locks on it. The mechanic could not find the lug nut key. I wasn't much help, I did not know what it looked like. Finally, I thought I would have to get the lug nuts broken to get the wheels off. My problem now wasn't getting the wheel balancing done. My problem was not getting stranded if I had a flat.

Finally, I located a specialty tyre place and they said they would be able to take the lug nuts off. I took my car to this place, the guy there had a quick look in the instrument box, and there it was - the lug nut key. If you don't know what it looks like, it is a 6 inch long hollow cylindrical shaft which is an exact fit for the lug nuts. This is the only key which will fit on the lug nuts. You use the lug wrench on the key to tighten or loosen the lug nuts.

It is good to know.