Hub centric rings

[Dave M]

Please give me your input on these. I understand these can be common with aftermarket wheels, but what is the downside. If it is the fact that they are made of plastic, could they done in metal to improve things? What got me thinking is the following recent post and various similar comments over time from others:

That's another reason i've gone off aftermarket wheels as the hub hole is larger so they fit more models then they supply a hub ring to suit, but for a sports car i don't think this is the way to go IMO and thats the reason i've got S2 wheel.

I understand that keeping the offset as close to stock as possible is the way to go. Granted, Monty's offset was 35mm (?) but would the rings cause a problem too?

I ask as I'm looking at a set of Racing Dynamics wheels that will require these rings. The offset is 50mm, so one of the closest to stock I've seen, plus the weight is almost 5-6 pounds less than the stock wheel.

[Monty]

Dave,

In an ideal world u need 60mm offset, u should be ok with 50mm. IIRC most aftermarket wheels need hub rings and u can get them in metal.

[John_W]

Dave,
My wheels have these blue plastic hub rings.

From a practical viewpoint, they are a pain every time I change a wheel, as they tend to fall off, and make putting the wheel on just that bit more difficult, as they move and have chamfered edges.

From an engineering standpoint, it means that the weight of the car and all stresses are transferred through the bolts and a bit of blue plastic. I would prefer it if the hub was responsible for taking care of the stresses and the bolts just kept the wheel on. Also, I hope I never get a puncture on a cold, dark, rainy night and have to change the wheel in a hurry.

Having said all that, I've still got them fitted and have not noticed any adverse effects on the car's performance, feel or handling. Neither have I had any problems with bolts coming loose or fracturing, so I guess they're up to it.

John

[GeoffSmith]

From an engineering standpoint, it means that the weight of the car and all stresses are transferred through the bolts and a bit of blue plastic.

I can't imagine much weight is carried by the plastic.

I would prefer it if the hub was responsible for taking care of the stresses and the bolts just kept the wheel on.

I would consider re-engineering them in something more solid as you suggest Dave, especially if you're taking them on the track.

Also, I hope I never get a puncture on a cold, dark, rainy night

on a hill

Geoff

[lotusgirlmarie]

Hey Dave,
My old MOMO wheels and my current OZ's use aluminum rings. The only downside I found was that I had to get rings for a Civic and shave them out by a few thousandths. I've had no problems with them falling out or being untrue due to heat or other forces. Hope this helps.

[Houdini]

Dave,

Are you sure about the Team Dynamic wheels needing hub centric rings. I've talked with them several times and they order the wheels with the correct hub centric diameter. The raw wheels have a smaller opening and offset. When you order they machine them to the correct offset, bolt pattern, and hub centric dimension. I just talked with them again last week, as I'm concidering a set of 17x7 Pro Race 1.2's in black.

,Russ

[Dave M]

Dave,

Are you sure about the Team Dynamic wheels needing hub centric rings. I've talked with them several times and they order the wheels with the correct hub centric diameter. The raw wheels have a smaller opening and offset. When you order they machine them to the correct offset, bolt pattern, and hub centric dimension. I just talked with them again last week, as I'm concidering a set of 17x7 Pro Race 1.2's in black.

,Russ

Nice choice, man! I doing the exact same, but in 16".

I spoke with Don Kane (the US distributor) and gave him the specs. I'll be interested to see if they come in 50mm or 60mm offset as they only list 50mm as the max on their site (actually 45mm for the 16s, but it sounds like they could do 50mm). Did they say they'd do 60mm for you? I can't imagine it is as simple as taking another 1cm off the mounting side I would think that could affect the strength of the wheel... They must cast them differently?

I gave Don the hub size as well, so I'll see how that turns out. He was going to run it all by the guy who handles the Elise wheels. Let's keep in touch to make sure neither of us gets stuck with a set that's out of spec compared to the other.

[Houdini]

Dave,

I was going with the 17x7's because he said it had a 50mm offset. You can go with a 53mm offset if you get 17x7.5 but that's actually worse. I think the 16x7's are 45mm max but I may be wrong. If the 16's come with 50mm offset then I'll go with the 16's as well.

,Russ