A mounting system for a wheel having a center portion with a plurality of wheel apertures includes a cap for covering the center portion of the wheel and having a pocket. The system includes a first fastener having a shank that fits through at least one of the wheel apertures. The shank has a first end, a second end, and a head at the first end configured to be captured by the cap pocket. The first fastener also includes a nut configured to thread onto the second end. The system also includes a second fastener having a shank that fits through at least one of the wheel apertures. The system additionally includes a wheel carrier bracket defining a plurality of bracket apertures, wherein the second fastener is configured to be threadably engaged with at least one of the bracket apertures. A vehicle having such a mounting system is also disclosed.

A vehicle tire carrier system for installation beneath a motor vehicle and protecting the wheel from unauthorized removal. The tire carrier system comprises: a raising and lowering mechanism comprising a cable and a rotational member for winding and unwinding the cable. A hub carrier is constructed to receive the wheel. The cable has a free end, and a ferrule is fixed to a free end portion of the cable. A rotatable cable end shield is mounted about the free end portion of the cable. The rotatable cable end shield comprises a housing having a top aperture in an upper portion thereof through which the free end portion of the cable is received. The housing encapsulates the free end portion of the cable and the ferrule for protection thereof. The rotatable cable end shield is configured to rotate independently to the free end portion of the cable and the ferrule.

A wheel lock arranged to engage a threaded wheel stud, comprising: a base having a first substantially planar section and a second section, the first section having an aperture, wherein the second section extends upwardly from the first section opposite the aperture and having a slot therein, the base having a locking section extending upwardly therefrom, the locking section having at least one aperture therein, and a pivoting member having a first substantially planar section and a second section, the first section having an aperture and a hollow cylinder extending downwardly coincident with the aperture, wherein the second section curls from the first section, the second section adapted to releasably engage the slot of the base's second section, the pivoting member having a slot therein and adapted to receive the locking section when the pivoting member is hingedly positioned over the base.

A spare tire anti-theft device for a vehicle is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, device includes a latch, a lever and a mechanical line. The latch is configured to move between a locked configuration that prevents a tire hoist from releasing a spare tire from a tire storage space and an unlocked configuration that allows the tire hoist to release the spare tire from the tire storage space. The lever is operable between a first position and a second position. The mechanical line includes a first end operatively connected to the latch and a second end operatively connected to the lever. The mechanical line causes the latch to move from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration when the lever is moved from the first position to the second position so that the tire hoist can release the spare tire from the tire storage space.