Spare tire?

alan1 · 03-15-2005, 09:14 AM

driving around with my new Liberty Limited.... smiling!!!

now, what about that nice 17inch spare just hanging off the back?
open invitation to theft?

...does anyone bother with wheel locks?
(looks like you could unbolt it from the back anyhow)
Thanks!

jeepom · 03-15-2005, 09:30 AM

If you don't have any, buy some - it's cheap insurance... IMHO.

**Texas ZJ1** · 03-15-2005, 10:33 AM

You know, a smaller bike cable wrapped through the wheel would further discourage theft.

Hunter

TRO · 03-15-2005, 11:26 AM

If the criminal element wants it, they'll take it. But I use a thick, grade 3 (as thick as my finger) , cable lock, looped through the carrier, through the rim. It's weatherproof too. It at least slows them down.
Oh yeah, I also keep the tire cover on. Much rather have some little punk take the cover and think they've won, then take the tire.

VTNomad · 03-15-2005, 01:33 PM

Cable locks are faily easy the get through. If bolt cutters don't get through it a grinder will. If you get one that use a combination lock, make sure it has more than three numbers in it. If you try a number a second, and assuming the you combination is the last one a thief tries, it will take him 18 minutes to find the right number. 4 or 5 digit combination push this time into the hours. I've worked in the bicycle industry in college towns for several years and have see this done countless times.

bratan · 03-15-2005, 03:55 PM

I had same concerns and bought me wheel lock set on eBay for $35. There's also another small device which I also got, and it should make it pretty hard for theves to steal the spare...
Look for "STOP SPARE TIRE/WHEEL THEFT - Jeep Liberty Security Kit" on ebay...

Mateo94XJ · 03-15-2005, 04:36 PM

True, you could use any of those. . . but if a thief gets to a point where they are pissed off enough, they could just slash 3 or 4 of your tires. . .

Happened to a friend of mine. Only tire he had left was the spare

TRO · 03-17-2005, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTNomad

Cable locks are faily easy the get through. If bolt cutters don't get through it a grinder will...

A criminal with a portable grinder on a public street. Hell, I say let him take it!

PA_KJ · 03-17-2005, 09:43 AM

My 2002 Sport came with a lock on the spare. I'm not sure why anyone would want to steal a crappy stock tire though. If you upgrade tires and wheels, then I would probably spend a little to secure it. If a criminal really wants that tire, he/she is going to get it though. However, a little security may ward off some of them off.

b1gfella · 03-17-2005, 12:00 PM

The place I worked a couple of years ago had a drug addict roam the lot for a few days stealing spare tires to trade for drugs. They eventually caught him because he was taking a spare off of a truck right outside the window of the owners office.

Two weeks ago a "homeless" person stopped and took a long hard look at the spare on my jeep while I was in a arby's. He did't know I was watching...I had the mopar "over the tire" bike rack on and had rigged it so the cover was still on the wheel. So he was looking it over and noticed the nice padlock on the bike carrier so he moved on thinking he could not get the tire off or the bike carrier.

Little did he know that all you had to do was cut the cover off and unbolt the wheel and you got both!! I have since remidied that by getting a Mopar wheel lock set and also the crazy lock off of ebay for the spare mount bolts. Now casual thieves can't get anything, but if someone really wanted it they could still get it given the right tools and time. I'd love to get a basket and mount it on the roof :-) 95% of the peopole could not even reach it then!!

fyi, 05 models do not include tire locks.

gdhumormn17 · 03-17-2005, 12:13 PM

good point about the 05's with tire locks. My goal is just to make it difficult for someone to take my tire off not to bulletproof it. If a thief gets disgruntled and can't get spare off then the odds of him taking it out on your vehicle raise! so if he want the tire THAT bad then take 20 minutes with some wire cutters and have a ball

alan1 · 03-18-2005, 02:43 PM

...just did the wheel locks now, if I have to hope I don't lose the key!

Bmach · 03-18-2005, 04:01 PM

Vtnomad you are right about the number of tumblers on the lock. Not to hard with 3 that is just 1000 combinations but going with a 4 tumbler will now make is 10,000 combinations must better. Of course all that will not stop a person that can just use a wrench and take the tire rack off the tailgate with the tire still on the rack. But anything to slow them down is better than nothing at all.

VTNomad · 03-18-2005, 10:01 PM

I've seen it in broad daylight on Virginia Tech's campus, when class is in session with a minimum of 200-300 witnesses. Dude walks up to a bike, starts cutting the lock, and within minutes is riding away with someone's bike.

If they want it bad enough, they're gonna get it. I've got the wheel locks and the locking nut for the carrier, if the can get through that they've earned it.

03-15-2005, 01:33 PM	#5
VTNomad Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 313 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Cable locks Cable locks are faily easy the get through. If bolt cutters don't get through it a grinder will. If you get one that use a combination lock, make sure it has more than three numbers in it. If you try a number a second, and assuming the you combination is the last one a thief tries, it will take him 18 minutes to find the right number. 4 or 5 digit combination push this time into the hours. I've worked in the bicycle industry in college towns for several years and have see this done countless times. __________________ 2004 Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition - Black w/ Towing Package Added: EVIC w/ Homelink & TPMS, OEM Seat Covers, OEM Slush Mats, Weathertech cargo liner and Weatherflectors - slide in air deflectors, Rusty's Strut Plates, OEM Rockrails and full skids, Tow hooks, Lightbar and Renegade Basket, 06 'Trail Rated' Badge, 06 Rear Overhead Lamp, 06 Tail Lights, Clear Turn Signals, and 160 Amp Renegade Alternator.

03-15-2005, 04:36 PM	#7
Mateo94XJ Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 852 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	True, you could use any of those. . . but if a thief gets to a point where they are pissed off enough, they could just slash 3 or 4 of your tires. . . Happened to a friend of mine. Only tire he had left was the spare __________________ '94 XJ Sport 2dr. '86 MJ '42 Willys MB

03-17-2005, 12:00 PM	#10
b1gfella Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 65 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The place I worked a couple of years ago had a drug addict roam the lot for a few days stealing spare tires to trade for drugs. They eventually caught him because he was taking a spare off of a truck right outside the window of the owners office. Two weeks ago a "homeless" person stopped and took a long hard look at the spare on my jeep while I was in a arby's. He did't know I was watching...I had the mopar "over the tire" bike rack on and had rigged it so the cover was still on the wheel. So he was looking it over and noticed the nice padlock on the bike carrier so he moved on thinking he could not get the tire off or the bike carrier. Little did he know that all you had to do was cut the cover off and unbolt the wheel and you got both!! I have since remidied that by getting a Mopar wheel lock set and also the crazy lock off of ebay for the spare mount bolts. Now casual thieves can't get anything, but if someone really wanted it they could still get it given the right tools and time. I'd love to get a basket and mount it on the roof :-) 95% of the peopole could not even reach it then!! fyi, 05 models do not include tire locks. __________________ John 1970 Buick Electra Convertible 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport 2002 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited Webmaster for: http://www.electra225.com http://www.socalgs.com http://www.sdbca.org/sdbca

03-17-2005, 12:13 PM	#11
gdhumormn17 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 163 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	good point about the 05's with tire locks. My goal is just to make it difficult for someone to take my tire off not to bulletproof it. If a thief gets disgruntled and can't get spare off then the odds of him taking it out on your vehicle raise! so if he want the tire THAT bad then take 20 minutes with some wire cutters and have a ball __________________ [URL=http://members.cardomain.com/titleist372]http://members.cardomain.com/titleist372[/URL] 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport Stock Patriot Blue Metallic Added: Limited Made spare Tire Cover V6 Auto Part Time 4 wheel drive All Wheel Discs ABS Lost Member #000655

03-18-2005, 10:01 PM	#14
VTNomad Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 313 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Grinders I've seen it in broad daylight on Virginia Tech's campus, when class is in session with a minimum of 200-300 witnesses. Dude walks up to a bike, starts cutting the lock, and within minutes is riding away with someone's bike. If they want it bad enough, they're gonna get it. I've got the wheel locks and the locking nut for the carrier, if the can get through that they've earned it. __________________ 2004 Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition - Black w/ Towing Package Added: EVIC w/ Homelink & TPMS, OEM Seat Covers, OEM Slush Mats, Weathertech cargo liner and Weatherflectors - slide in air deflectors, Rusty's Strut Plates, OEM Rockrails and full skids, Tow hooks, Lightbar and Renegade Basket, 06 'Trail Rated' Badge, 06 Rear Overhead Lamp, 06 Tail Lights, Clear Turn Signals, and 160 Amp Renegade Alternator.

03-15-2005, 11:26 AM	#4
TRO Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 173 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	If the criminal element wants it, they'll take it. But I use a thick, grade 3 (as thick as my finger) , cable lock, looped through the carrier, through the rim. It's weatherproof too. It at least slows them down. Oh yeah, I also keep the tire cover on. Much rather have some little punk take the cover and think they've won, then take the tire.

03-15-2005, 03:55 PM	#6
bratan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 78 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I had same concerns and bought me wheel lock set on eBay for $35. There's also another small device which I also got, and it should make it pretty hard for theves to steal the spare... Look for "STOP SPARE TIRE/WHEEL THEFT - Jeep Liberty Security Kit" on ebay...

03-17-2005, 09:43 AM	#9
PA_KJ Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 160 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	My 2002 Sport came with a lock on the spare. I'm not sure why anyone would want to steal a crappy stock tire though. If you upgrade tires and wheels, then I would probably spend a little to secure it. If a criminal really wants that tire, he/she is going to get it though. However, a little security may ward off some of them off.

03-18-2005, 02:43 PM	#12
alan1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	...just did the wheel locks now, if I have to hope I don't lose the key!

03-18-2005, 04:01 PM	#13
Bmach Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 262 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Vtnomad you are right about the number of tumblers on the lock. Not to hard with 3 that is just 1000 combinations but going with a 4 tumbler will now make is 10,000 combinations must better. Of course all that will not stop a person that can just use a wrench and take the tire rack off the tailgate with the tire still on the rack. But anything to slow them down is better than nothing at all.