The most common problem with the nuts, which are designed to protect expensive alloy wheels against theft, is that the key is missing – although over-tightening and poor quality nuts also cause difficulties.

David Goodyear, general manager, says: “While our mobile units carry a variety of tools for removing locking wheel nuts, it is not an easy job and risks damage to the wheel itself. It means a tyre fitting that should take around half an hour can sometimes take half a day.”

The situation is becoming a major issue, particularly on high value fleet vehicles, says Goodyear. He warns that as alloy wheel designs become more popular as well as more sophisticated and valuable, the problem can only grow.