Saw a Nissan Altima in a parking lot the other day. It had winter tires, mounted on black steel rims, the smart way to do it (save those alloys for the nice weather).
But each wheel also had one lockable lug nut on it. Maybe the owner had heard about the rising incidence of winter tire theft, due at least in part to Quebec's new law mandating winter tires.
Another manifestation thereof - my daughter Laura has friends in Maine. They tell her that winter tires are in short supply there too - that cross-border shopping thing again.
I did the same thing for my car.
Although I am willing to bet the Altima owner was in the same boat as me....
I didn't have another non-locking lug nut to put on there, so the dealer installed a locking one moved from my summers and used it on my winters.
Posted by: Rob Mcintosh | December 06, 2008 at 02:52 PM
I chuckled when I read your blog on locking wheel nuts on cars with winter tires in Quebec.
A few years ago I purchased a used Corvette with locking wheel nuts. In trying to remove 1 of the front wheels I messed up the locking nut because the garage had over tightened the nut.
A friend of mine is a back-yard mechanic so I went over to his place to ask what I should do. While I was explaining the problem, he walked into his garage, came back with a socket and socket bar and simply removed the nut.
To my surprise, sockets are readily available that fit over the top of the locking wheel nut and bite into the outer surface thus removing the locking wheel nut. It would have taken longer for me to retrieve the "key" from the car if he was removing my wheel.
I guess locking wheel nuts only work on lazy thieves. For those that are the least bit professional, the locking nuts won't even slow them down.
Geoff Whitehead
Delta, BC
Posted by: Geoff, Delta, BC | December 11, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Re: Let it Snow; let it snow; let it snow
I started driving legally in 1952. Of course, as a farm boy I had driven for several years before that around the farm. We used to pride ourselves on our ability to handle snow, and went looking for unplowed roads. I still enjoy the challenge of a heavy snow storm.
When I first went to Toronto to work in the late 50's I was appalled to find so many drivers who had apparently never seen snow before. That inability to drive in winter seems to have spread to my part of Ontario as well.
I have been teaching my 15-year-old grandson to drive on snow. We regularly take my pick-up down through the farm. Since there are several hills and recently a good depth of snow he is developing some real skill under adverse conditions. We even have been able to practice skids on a small patch of ice. He was recently bragging to his mother that he is "The second best driver on deep snow in the family" No lack of confidence there!
I know that driving schools simply don't have the time or facilities to do the sort of training I have been doing but wouldn't it be nice if they could? Incidentally, when he gets his learner's licence a professional driving school will do the teaching. I'm teaching what I know I'm good at; they can do the rest.
You may be right regarding FWD vs 4WD on corners but in deep unplowed snow there is nothing to match 4WD. On modern roads it is usually an expensive, unnecessary luxury that doesn't make up for lack of driving ability.
I enjoy your columns and your blog. Keep up the good work
Posted by: Larry Mitz | December 21, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Wisdom for the ages!
I too wish driving schools could teach these critical skills; your grandson is a lucky young man.
And thank you for the kind words!
Jim Kenzie
Posted by: Jim Kenzie | December 21, 2008 at 12:08 PM