Towing & roadside assistance—one local call.
Lake View East & North Side focus · 24/7
English & Spanish assistance
Towing & roadside assistance—one local call.
Lake View East & North Side focus · 24/7
English & Spanish assistance
Driver guides · Published October 18, 2026
Have a flat tire and can’t find the wheel-lock key? Tell Rick’s before dispatch. A spare in the trunk does not guarantee the damaged wheel can be removed. Call with your vehicle details, which tire is flat and whether the matching key is available.
Rick’s is open 24/7 for towing and roadside assistance in Lake View East and Chicago’s North Side. We’ll discuss whether a spare change is possible or a compatible tow makes more sense.
A wheel lock is a security fastener on the wheel. Its matching key is a small adapter used with a wrench—not the key or fob that starts your car. McGard’s wheel-lock guidance explains that the matching tool is needed to install and remove its locks.
If you are safely parked, check the vehicle’s tool storage and any pouch kept with the spare. The owner’s manual can identify the original equipment storage locations. Check the glove compartment for a lock identification card as well. Do not search beside moving traffic or unload your trunk into the street.
The spare must be usable, and the work location must be safe. Tell Rick’s if the spare is missing, damaged or appears flat. Follow the vehicle manual for its pressure and use limits; don’t assume every spare has the same requirements.
A traffic-side wheel near Broadway or Belmont Avenue, a sloping garage ramp or a cramped alley can change the plan. Give the actual address and cross street, then say whether the car is curbside, behind the building or inside a garage. Mention the entrance, posted clearance and any locked gate. A nearby landmark alone may not identify the vehicle’s accessible side.
Rick’s flat tire service is installation of a usable spare when the vehicle and access permit it. It is not roadside puncture patching or new-tire mounting.
For the stranded vehicle: call and explain that the key is missing. Do not assume the responding truck carries a matching key or can remove every locking fastener. Rick’s must assess the equipment and access; lock removal is not promised. Avoid forcing an improvised tool onto the lock.
For a replacement key: identify the lock manufacturer. McGard lets owners order using the identification registration card and directs customers without that card to customer service. For an original-equipment McGard set, its guidance says a franchised dealership may be able to assist. Other brands have their own process. A replacement order is not an immediate roadside solution, and Sunday opening hours must be confirmed with the business you contact.
See McGard’s replacement-key instructions if that is the brand fitted to your car. Rick’s is not presented as a McGard or dealership affiliate.
If the wheel cannot be removed, the spare cannot be used or the location is unsafe for a change, discuss vehicle-compatible towing to a tire shop that can handle the problem. Confirm that the destination will accept the vehicle and can address the missing lock key before arranging delivery.
Rick’s uses wheel-lift equipment and does not offer flatbed towing. Vehicle drivetrain, the affected wheel, damage and pickup access determine whether the available setup is suitable. Do not assume a flat tire can roll safely during loading; describe its condition and let Rick’s assess the approach.
For immediate danger, call 911 first. Do not put yourself beside traffic to collect a photo or inspect a wheel.
Keep the matching key where you can find it and check that it comes back after wheel service. Save the manufacturer’s identification information separately. NHTSA recommends checking tire pressure, including the spare, at least monthly when cold. Its TireWise guidance explains tire maintenance and damage checks.
For the broader equipment checklist, read spare tires and repair kits: what to check. If you are stranded now, call Rick’s and mention the missing key right away.
Call Rick’s for towing and roadside assistance. Tell us your location and the service you need. Rick’s is open 24/7; availability and vehicle suitability are confirmed for each request.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance provides 24/7 towing and roadside assistance for drivers in Lake View East, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Edgewater, Lincoln Square, North Center, Sauganash, and nearby Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods. We help with wheel-lift towing, jump starts, flat tire service, car lockout service, fuel delivery, and emergency roadside assistance when your vehicle leaves you stuck.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance has served Lake View East and Chicago’s North Side with 24/7 towing and roadside assistance since 2000.
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