Anyone have any tricks to getting locking style lug nuts off without the key? Lost the key and need to change tires.

 

Most wheel shops either have keys or can get keys for em as long as your not sittin road side tryin to fix a flat. If it's an emergency and they aren't recessed sometimes a pipe wrench will do the trick or i have used the Gator Grip socket on em and it worked. It's the one size fits all, even stripped nuts socket.

If it's recessed and an emergency, call up the buddy with a torch and hope he's good with it.

 

Here is what I use, tap it on with a hammer, then put the impact on it.

Craftsman 3 pc. Flip Socket Set with Red Pouch

 

i ended up using an old 15/16 impact socket, beat it on them with a hammer and used a breaker bar.

 

i use to work in a tire shop, and the easiest way we did it was to pound on a socket that is very close and spin it backwards till it gets good and hot, then wait a min till it swells up and run it off, it is a good way to ruin a socket, but it works and we used craftsmen, so we just turned it back in for a new one. or we would pound the nut off and save socket for another one. but you could only do it a couple of times. and make sure you have a new set of lugs to put on it.