2023 test7 productsAuto Parts & Repair
Which Wheel Lock Brand Wins?
We compared 7 wheel lock options head to head. Advance Wheel Lock System came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Winner
Advance Wheel Lock System
Price shown in test: $90
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Runner-up
Gorilla Free Spinning
Price shown in test: $36
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Budget pick
McGard
Price shown in test: $19
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Locking pliers | Socket test | NAPA universal extractor tool | Spiral screw extractor | Portable inverter welder | Corrosion test | Harbor Freight extractor set | Universal spring loaded pin socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Advance Wheel Lock System$90 | unable to gain a grip due to lock shape and hard metal, even with full access, held up very well with very little visible damage, one of only two brands (with McGard) to survive on the open rim design | no luck with the socket method, tapered shape and hardness made it very difficult, lock survived | extraction tool was not able to gain a grip, lock survived | would not work on the Advance wheel lock, survived | first weld attempt at 120 amps did not hold, second attempt with a new nut and more filling plus a small bead held and removed the lock, the only method that defeated the Advance lock | plating appeared higher quality than other brands, no visible corrosion on the undamaged lock within the test window | not tested | not tested |
| 2Gorilla Free Spinning$36 | on the OEM wheel, pliers could not gain a grip on the lower portion, gave up after about a minute and a half, on the open wheel, pliers gained a grip and the lock was loose in about a minute, left teeth marks (soft metal) | required a 6 point socket driven deep enough to capture both the spinning top and bottom portions, took about 35 seconds versus roughly 20 seconds for other brands, lock is pretty soft | free spinning design prevented the extraction tool from working, lock survived | would not work on the free spinning Gorilla, survived | not tested | some corrosion, very difficult to see, similar amount to the White Knight and Dorman | not tested | not tested |
| 3McGard$19 | pliers could not sink their teeth in with limited access, with 360 degree access the plating still prevented a grip and there was very little damage, one of only two brands (with Advance) to survive on the open rim design | took the most time to find a perfectly sized socket but once found removal took less than 20 seconds, the socket used was poor quality and the McGard destroyed its points, very little damage to the wheel lock | made very easy work of the McGard in about 20 seconds, left pretty deep tooth marks | not tested | not tested | some corrosion, less than the White Knight and Dorman | not tested | not tested |
| 4Tavaski$21 | pliers could not gain a grip with limited access, gave up after about 25 seconds, with 360 degree access removed in less than 30 seconds, a little more damage than McGard but still just minor scratches | a 12 point socket broke it loose in about 20 seconds, the socket held up fine and left teeth marks on the wheel lock | made very easy work, took 20 seconds, left pretty deep tooth marks | not tested | not tested | about the same amount of corrosion as the White Knight and Dorman | not tested | not tested |
| 5Gorilla Small Diameter Acorn$26 | small diameter and external pattern made it very easy to defeat, quite a bit of damage to the wheel lock | needed a couple of attempts to find the right socket, second attempt took about 20 seconds, soft metal allowed the socket method to work very well, no damage to the socket | outer perimeter locking pattern helped the tool gain traction, removed in about 20 seconds with quite a bit of damage | not tested | not tested | some corrosion, very difficult to see, similar amount to the White Knight and Dorman | not tested | not tested |
| 6Dorman with spinning collar$18 | spinning sleeve slowed removal, switched strategy to a self tapping sheet metal screw, sleeve removed at the 2 minute mark, total removal just over 2.5 minutes, a lot of visible damage | no socket was exactly the right size, used nails wedged between an oversized socket and the lock, total of about 5 minutes to remove | could not remove the Dorman with the sleeve in place, socket and sleeve rotate freely but the lug nut does not turn, sleeve must be removed first | not tested | not tested | quite a bit of corrosion, similar to the White Knight | assuming 2 minutes to remove the sleeve, took another 20 seconds to remove the wheel lock | could not remove the Dorman but did remove the metal collar, the most success this tool had on any brand tested |
| 7White Knight$15 | defeated in about a minute at a leisurely pace, a lot of visible damage | too large in diameter for a socket on the OEM wheel, on the open rim a 6 point socket made very easy work and the lock was loose in about 30 seconds, the metal is very soft | took several attempts to position, then about 20 seconds to remove, left a small crease in the wheel lock | made very easy work of the White Knight | not tested | quite a bit of corrosion where the plating was damaged | not tested | not able to gain a good enough grip |
How it was tested
- removal resistance to locking pliers, tested with limited access and with full 360 degree access
- removal resistance to an undersized or oversized socket
- removal resistance to a NAPA universal wheel lock extractor socket
- removal resistance to a Harbor Freight universal locking wheel nut removal extractor set
- removal resistance to a universal spring loaded pin socket
- removal resistance to a spiral screw extractor
- removal resistance to a portable handheld inverter welder
- corrosion resistance using a hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt mix
“the advance wheel lock system is by far the best, winning in every category”