2009 honda accord coupe alloy wheels

I'm considering buying a new 2009 accord coupe with the standard alloy
wheels. Never having owned alloy wheels what are alloy wheels? Is it
recommended to get wheel locks for these? Do these wheels usually get
stolen without the wheel locks? I live near Houston, Texas.

 

They are made of a metal alloy rather than steel. Advantages include less
unsprung weight which translates into slightly better mileage.

Do they need wheel locks? The professional thieves have the wherewithal to
readily defeat the locks. They might slow down the teenage amateurs for a
little while. I remember from when I lived in Houston that anything not
nailed down and guarded with a shotgun was fair game, so wheel locks might
help, but its more likely they would just take the whole car.

I'll bet the dealers automatically put them on all the cars on their lots &
then try to sell them with the car at significantly above retail markup.
All the dealers around Dallas do this. Since this is sorta sleazy, I always
tell them I don't want the locks and won't pay for them. In every case (4
new cars so far) they just give them to me as part of the deal.

 

They are made of a metal alloy rather than steel. Advantages include less
unsprung weight which translates into slightly better mileage.

Do they need wheel locks? The professional thieves have the wherewithal to
readily defeat the locks. They might slow down the teenage amateurs for a
little while. I remember from when I lived in Houston that anything not
nailed down and guarded with a shotgun was fair game, so wheel locks might
help, but its more likely they would just take the whole car.

I'll bet the dealers automatically put them on all the cars on their lots &
then try to sell them with the car at significantly above retail markup.
All the dealers around Dallas do this. Since this is sorta sleazy, I always
tell them I don't want the locks and won't pay for them. In every case (4
new cars so far) they just give them to me as part of the deal.

 

The rims are made of aluminum metal alloy, of a proprietary recipe.

Yes, I would install wheel locks.

If someone needs them yes.

This is sad but true.
A local (south bay) So. Cal dealer tried to charge a friend's daughter $500
for a set of wheel locks.
Locks like this:
http://payments.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CheckoutProcessor&item=250371820843&transactionid=0&quantity=1&level=1&editAddress=0&newpurchaseok=0&refererpage=6&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1160

Will stop the amateur and are something you can install yourself, if you're
so inclined.


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The rims are made of aluminum metal alloy, of a proprietary recipe.

Yes, I would install wheel locks.

If someone needs them yes.

This is sad but true.
A local (south bay) So. Cal dealer tried to charge a friend's daughter $500
for a set of wheel locks.
Locks like this:
http://payments.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CheckoutProcessor&item=250371820843&transactionid=0&quantity=1&level=1&editAddress=0&newpurchaseok=0&refererpage=6&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1160

Will stop the amateur and are something you can install yourself, if you're
so inclined.


--
Tp,

-------- __o
----- -\<. -------- __o
--- ( )/ ( ) ---- -\<.
-------------------- ( )/ ( )

 

make that typically "aluminum alloy" - steel is a metal alloy.

indeed, but the mileage thing is somewhat debatable. steady cruising, the
weight differential makes no difference, it's only on acceleration that
reduced mass means anything.

the op is more likely to notice a difference in the way the car rides
because of unsprung weight as you say, but again, there's a trade-off -
steel wheels, while slightly heavier, are more springy, and thus, same
tire, same vehicle, are a slightly softer ride. alloys, correspondingly,
are stiffer and thus more "sporty".

indeed - so-called locks are useless and easily defeated with one of these:

http://www.autobarn.net/emlugnutrem.html

 

make that typically "aluminum alloy" - steel is a metal alloy.

indeed, but the mileage thing is somewhat debatable. steady cruising, the
weight differential makes no difference, it's only on acceleration that
reduced mass means anything.

the op is more likely to notice a difference in the way the car rides
because of unsprung weight as you say, but again, there's a trade-off -
steel wheels, while slightly heavier, are more springy, and thus, same
tire, same vehicle, are a slightly softer ride. alloys, correspondingly,
are stiffer and thus more "sporty".

indeed - so-called locks are useless and easily defeated with one of these:

http://www.autobarn.net/emlugnutrem.html

 

which word don't you understand?

 

which word don't you understand?

 

Or simpler - when a friend was stranded on the freeway with a flat tire and
no lug nut lock socket, I called my local Discount Tire. They told me the
method they use in that situation: drive on a socket that is slightly
smaller than the lock and remove the lock with a regular socket handle. None
of the pieces are recognized as "burglar tools." It was about as quick as
using the proper unlock socket except it destroyed the lock.

I agree - the usual locks are completely worthless.

Mike

 

Or simpler - when a friend was stranded on the freeway with a flat tire and
no lug nut lock socket, I called my local Discount Tire. They told me the
method they use in that situation: drive on a socket that is slightly
smaller than the lock and remove the lock with a regular socket handle. None
of the pieces are recognized as "burglar tools." It was about as quick as
using the proper unlock socket except it destroyed the lock.

I agree - the usual locks are completely worthless.

Mike

 

If your roads are anything like those in Houston, you'll
probably beat the rims to death anyway. If they have those
low, low profile tires, it will ride like a truck, to boot.

 

If your roads are anything like those in Houston, you'll
probably beat the rims to death anyway. If they have those
low, low profile tires, it will ride like a truck, to boot.

 

you really think steel wheels are "more springy" ?
and thus give a "softer ride"?

OTOH,steel wheels don't crack if you hit a pothole.

 

you can also buy "wheel lock removers" at Harbor Freight,to fit impact
wrenches.
they're like an inverted Easy-Out,same metal as impact sockets.

 

Lower unspring weight is supposed to mean better ride and handling, not
mileage.

Theoretically, a lighter wheel assembly means the suspension can more
quickly and effectively control road wheel movements with less transfer
of motion to the body.

However, I'm not sure the actual weight differential between steel and
aluminum is enough to make a real difference, so I think the purpose of
aluminum wheels is primarily cosmetic enhancement. Certainly the
suspension is the same whether the wheels are steel or aluminum. The
wheel/tire assembly weighs approximately 30-35 lbs.

In practice, locks do help slow thieves down a bit. Given a choice
between locked and unlocked wheels, thieves will choose the unlocked
wheels first.

All /retailers/ do this sort of thing, period. It's how they make money.
But you're always free to refuse it.

You won, then. You did your job as a consumer.

 

Lower unspring weight is supposed to mean better ride and handling, not
mileage.

Theoretically, a lighter wheel assembly means the suspension can more
quickly and effectively control road wheel movements with less transfer
of motion to the body.

However, I'm not sure the actual weight differential between steel and
aluminum is enough to make a real difference, so I think the purpose of
aluminum wheels is primarily cosmetic enhancement. Certainly the
suspension is the same whether the wheels are steel or aluminum. The
wheel/tire assembly weighs approximately 30-35 lbs.

In practice, locks do help slow thieves down a bit. Given a choice
between locked and unlocked wheels, thieves will choose the unlocked
wheels first.

All /retailers/ do this sort of thing, period. It's how they make money.
But you're always free to refuse it.

You won, then. You did your job as a consumer.

 

74.209.136.83:



Jim, why do you remove crossposting?

 

yes, i really think - i've messed about with this stuff.

nor do expensive forged aluminum - it's only cheapo cast stuff that
cracks. academic tho - still can't straighten them. but you can at least
limp home.

 

yes, i really think - i've messed about with this stuff.

nor do expensive forged aluminum - it's only cheapo cast stuff that
cracks. academic tho - still can't straighten them. but you can at least
limp home.