► What it’s like living with one of the toughest steering wheel locks
► Sold Secure and Secured by Design accreditation
► View our favourite steering wheel locks here
The Disklok Gold Edition is one hefty solution to the increasing issues surrounding modern car security; a giant orb of supposedly impenetrable steel (reinforced with a fancy substance called diamonite) that encases a steering wheel.
The steering wheel lock for a while, was considered a piece of automotive history. Up there with cassette players and in-car phones, advances in car security had rendered the steering wheel lock a relic. Then came the plight of keyless car thefts, and with it, the old-fashioned steering wheel came back with a bang.
Crafted from toughened steel and available in three sizes, the Disklok creates a protective barrier that rotates freely if tampered with, thwarting tool-based attacks. Independently endorsed by the police, it’s a tough line of defence, but it does come with some substantial weight.
Our Deputy Commercial Content Editor, Ryan Gilmore, has been living with the Disklok for the last six weeks to see whether the extra bulk and security can seamlessly integrate into his life, or whether it’s too much of an inconvenience to bother using.
Verdict: Big and bulky, but so is a bank vault.
Score: 4/5
Pros:
• Almost impenetrable steering wheel lock
• An incredible visual deterrent
• Packed with clever security designs
Cons:
• It’s bulky to attach and remove
• You’ll want the optional sleeve if you value your steering wheel
What’s good?
My top concern for any steering wheel lock will be whether or not it will actually defeat and deter thieves. There are plenty of steering wheels available that’ll offer solid security for less than £100, so this premium example really needs to stand out to make it recommendable.
The good news is that from a security standpoint, it’s really hard to find fault in the Disklok, in fact I’ve christened it my car’s shield and not just because it looks like a high-vis version of something Captain America would hold.
Constructed entirely of hardened steel and weighing 4.5kg, every aspect of the Disklok exudes durability and purpose. Its hinged design incorporates a spring-loaded locking pin mechanism; there’s no way to accidentally not lock it in place.
The lock itself is designed to withstand lock-picking attempts as well as drill attacks. Three keys are included as standard, alongside a unique code for any replacements. The striking yellow finish also ensures it sticks out like a sore thumb, there’s no way a potential thief could miss this. For a more understated look, a silver version is also available.
This is no mere marketing exercise either. The Gold Edition has independent verification from two leading security accreditation services: Sold Secure and Secured by Design.
The Sold Secure Gold rating means the Disklok could hold up to attacks from ‘a dedicated tool list’, which includes a battery-powered angle grinder, a tool that can easily defeat a lesser wheel lock. The Secured by Design rating means it’s a police-approved security measure. This also means it was independently assessed and will be subject to re-testing to ensure the security quality doesn’t deteriorate over time. With both stamps of approval adorning the device, it meant I was able to sleep even more soundly at night.
Paired with a Faraday box for keyless entry vehicles, the Disklok offers comprehensive mechanical protection, dissuading even the most determined thieves.
What’s okay?
Owing to the encapsulating design, at its smallest the Disklok will be 39cm across (it can be adjusted a little to accommodate your steering wheel). This really does hamper attaching and removing the device, especially in a car with a more cramped interior or steeply raked windscreen and the process can become infuriating.
Combine that with the 4.5kg weight, and it doesn’t exactly make it an easy device to slide on and off a steering wheel easily. I tried attaching the device to several cars during the course of my testing and found results were really mixed. It was a breeze in my old Volvo but nigh-on impossible to do with the door closed in a Fiat 500E.
Any negatives?
Storing the product while it’s not attached to the steering became a real issue for me quickly. For something that’s rarely driven, like a campervan or classic, this won’t be a massive issue. For a daily driven car, it’ll be infuriating. In my car, it would either eat up the passenger footwell or take a substantial chunk of rear leg room away. I even relegated it to the boot for a short while before the faff of collecting and dropping it off made me give up. At least the locking mechanism folds in to make it a little smaller.
Disklok sells a storage bag separately, which is an essential purchase for making storage easier. After all, it’d effortlessly scrape interior plastics without the delicate handling.
Even more essential is the steering wheel insert cover if you don’t want a damaged steering wheel. The meagre padding it ships with as standard isn’t the best if you’re trying to keep the finish of your wheel in good order. It was hard wearing on leather, which would spell disaster for a wooden or Alcantra-equipped wheel. The insert does, however, add yet another step in the attaching and dismounting procedure.
More products to consider:
Stoplock Pro Elite Car Steering Wheel Lock, RRP £53.99
Milenco HS Yellow Steering Wheel Lock, RRP £67.81
Milenco HS Yellow Steering Wheel Lock, RRP £55
Who tested it?
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for CAR, and has three years of experience testing automotive products. The owner of an older car, he’s often used a steering wheel lock to keep his car extra-secure, so the Disklok interested him.
How this product was tested
The Disklok Gold Edition has been used daily as a security measure. As part of this, it was applied and removed before each journey over the course of six weeks. This allowed me to gauge how easy it was to live with.
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