Hello

I have an 05 vauxhall corsa which was sold to us without the locking nut case but just the nut that used to rattle around the glove compartment, needless to say we have now lost the locking nut and have no record of the number for the right key. The front two tyres are now very bald and I do 60 miles a day motorway driving so the current weather conditions are making me a rather worried driver.

Over the last week I have spoken to and visited so many tyre places but not one of them has a nut that matches and can only suggest smashing them off and getting new ones.

I really don't want them smashed or welded off but do I really have no other option? I was told that using the car's chassis number you could find out the key but I have spoken to Vauxhall this morning and that isn't true apparently.

Very frustrated that even vauxhall can't get their own tyres off their cars!

Thanks

Michelle

I would be surprised if they would not come off with a slightly over sized socket.I am surprised the tyre places would not try that.I did it myself that way a few years back. It may round the edges of the locking nut but that is not the end of the world.

can you put a pic up of the type on locking nut

Unless you actually have the locking key I don't see the point in keeping them, if you get a flat tyre one night you are royally stuffed.

Look on eBay for a new set to match your car (or go down the breakers and pick up a few nuts). Have them taken off (get Kwik Fit to do a "free" brake check, you never know, they might take them off for you ) and then just put the new ones on.

Cheaper than having to be recovered

Sorry I can't post a pic of type because we have lost it and that's the whole point we cant find out what type/key it is

None of the tyre places I've spoken to, kwik fit, national tyres, tyre guys, top gear tyres will or can take them off! Don't have the facilities....

i'd get them welded off or taken off some way then buy new ones, at least then you have the nut

we sell removal blades at work, but they are about £9 each and they are only a one use item. So you would need four for a full set (if you only have one locking nut on each wheel)

So that could be quite expensive, You just whack them into the locking wheel nut and it grips inside and you will then be able to remove it.

Other than that, i would suggest the same as everyone else already has.

Good luck

the way Ive seen it done is to get a nut welded to the locking nut and then remove it that way then sling them away and replace with new ones

I think you'll find a few of the "proper" mechanics in these places will have one in their tool box, it's not an uncommon problem.

J&M Speed (645 0881) can get a removal tool in for you next day for £23, might be cheaper than getting a nut welded to each one, depends where you go.

maybe but how often are you going to use the nut removal tool? seems a waste of £23 imho

"DIRECT TYRES" behind KFC in Rock ferry can get the nuts off they have the removal key, the man himself told me so. The nuts are made of soft mild steel, and the removal tool "hammers" on to the nuts. If not try bathers on the A41, let us know how you get on?

How much do the courts charge nowadays for bald tyres?

I was thinking that too, but the other side is how much are you going to pay someone to weld four nuts to the locking nuts (without damaging the wheels), has to be a £20 job minimum, so for £3 extra you have the tool to do it in your tool box for next time.

pic of the nut?

Ah thanks so much for the great response and to Nigel, sounds like Direct Tyres are going to be the right guys. My plan tomorrow is to go to halfords/motorworld buy a new locking nut set then to direct tyres wallasey for some new tyres (rock ferry sold out) then to rock ferry for them to remove and fit new ones!!

Hope it goes to plan otherwise I'm screwed!

not the time of year to be driving with bald tyres,, hope you get it sorted lol

Is it an original Vauxhall locking key?

If so, take it to the dealer and get them to match it up. Most dealers carry a full set of locking nut keys (Ive had to do this with Nissan and BMW), so they bring a case full of key to the car, try each one until they find one that fits, and then sell it to you (Last one I got was from BMW and it cost £7), and then relace it for themselves for stock in the future.

....of course, it wouldnt surprise me if Vauxhall didnt do this - something that makes so much sense, yet they are oblivious

Failing that, take it to a garage and get it removed - wont cost much, and should damage the wheels....