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    Hub Rings for Aftermarket Wheels

    Introduction
    Apparently, some car enthusiasts are not aware of the crucial importance of using hub rings when installing aftermarket wheels. In fact, some don't even know of their existence. Since this is an extremely important topic affecting both handling and safety concerns for our cars, I thought it a good idea to ensure that more of our members have access to this information.

    Why Hub Rings?
    OEM alloy and steel wheels are manufactured to have a centerbore diameter exactly sized to match that of the vehicle hub. This ensures that the wheel is solidly supported by the hub, giving what's called a hubcentric mounting. Here, the lugs and lug nuts function to hold the wheel to the hub, but do not support its weight. The lugs are not designed to be a weight-bearing component by themselves - their primary function, in conjunction with the lug nuts, is to solidly fasten the wheel to the hub assembly.

    By contrast, most aftermarket wheels (except those specifically designed for a specific model; in which case the centerbore is matched to the vehicle hub size) are made with a centerbore diameter much larger than most vehicle hub diameters. This enables a single aftermarket wheel type to fit a wide variety of cars and models. If such a wheel is mounted on the car, it will only be supported by the lugs (called a lugcentric mounting) giving rise to possible movement between wheel and hub during cornering and acceleration, vibration, and excessive wheel bearing wear, including possible structural failure of the lugs themselves. The problem is made even worse when fitting a wheel of less positve offset than OEM design because it places an additional strain on the wheel bearings and lugs.

    To provide the desired hubcentric mounting of aftermarket wheels, hub rings are employed. The inner diameter of the hub ring is sized to just fit over the car's wheel hub (slip fit) while the outer diameter of the hub ring is sized to fit the wheels centerbore (slip fit or light push fit). So installed, hub rings enable the correct hubcentric mounting of any aftermarket wheel. For those of you who minimize the importance of hubcentric mounting, TheMAN has pointed out that no Japanese car is designed to use lugcentric mounting; why should the wheels on your car use an inferior method of attachment as compared with OEM?

    In order to select the correct size hub rings, we have to know both the hub diameter of our car and the centerbore diameter of the aftermarket wheel in question. If a listing can't be found for your vehicle's hub diameter, it's easy enough to measure this dimension on your own. A decent caliper or micrometer (2" to 3" range for most purposes) will easily do the job. Once the hub diameter is known, select a ring whose i.d. matches it and you're all set.

    Hub Diameters
    All 4-lug Proteges: 54.1mm

    All 5-lug Proteges: 67.1mm

    323 ('86-'89): 59.61mm
    323 ('90-'95): 54.1mm

    MX3: 54.1mm

    3: 67.1mm

    626 ('83-'92): 59.61mm
    626 ('93-'02): 67.1mm

    Millenia: 67.1mm

    6: 67.1mm

    MPV: 67.1mm

    5: 67.1mm

    Thanks to firelizard for providing a number of the hub dimensions listed above.

    Finding Centerbore Diameters
    Centerbore diameters vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers, for example Enkei, list centerbore diameters on their website; most, but by no means all Enkei centerbores are 72.6 mm.

    Others such as 5Zigen do not. Again, in the absence of a listing, the centerbore diameter can be determined using a caliper or inside micrometer. I know the FN01R-C wheels have a 73 mm centerbore because I measured it myself. However, that doesn't necessarily mean all their wheels have this same dimension.

    Rota fans are fortunate because a Canadian website lists the centerbore diameters of all their wheels.


    When you buy wheels online, some dealers will provide the correct hub rings as long as they know your car model, relieving you of the task of discovering the dimension on your own. Hub rings can also be bought separately from a variety of sources.

    Installing Hub Rings
    Hub rings are available in both polycarbonate plastic and aluminum. I use aluminum types because some have said that plastic rings may crack over time although I have no evidence for this assertion. A friend of mine has been using the same set of polycarbonate rings in his wheels for 7-years now and they show no evidence of wear or cracking. Also, the plastic rings are marginally lighter than those made from aluminum.

    Before installing in the wheel, coat the outer surface of the ring with spark plug anti-seize and insert fully from the inner side of the centerbore. They are a light push fit (only finger pressure necessary) and when fully home the flanged outer surface of the ring will be below the wheel mounting face so that the face will be flush against the hub when drawn up tight by the lug nuts. Coating the outer surface of the ring will make it easier to remove from the wheel over time should the need arise. Of course, when mounting the wheel to the hub, also coat the hub and/or the inside of the ring where it contacts the hub with anti-seize, to ensure easy removal when necessary. Before actually mounting the wheel, be careful the rings don't fall out and get misplaced.

    Happy Motoring!

    Photo 1 illustrates the set of rings used to mount the Enkei OR52 wheels to my car. The rings are marked 72.6-54.1 (72.6 mm being the centerbore diameter of these wheels) and were provided to me by Discount Tire when I ordered the wheel/tire combo from them.

    Photo 2 shows the wheel centerbore before the hub ring has been installed.

    Photo 3 is of the same wheel with the hub ring seated.

    Photo 4 portrays a set of hub rings similar to the ones used to mount the 5Zigen FN01R-C wheels to my car. Note they are marked 73 x 54.1 (73 mm being the centerbore diameter of the 5Zigen wheels).
    Attached Files
    Last edited by goldstar; 06-24-2011, 02:41 PM.
    02 DX Millenium Red - The Penultimate Driving Machine
    MP3 Strut Tower Bar kit; Cusco Front Lower Arm Tie Bar
    MSP Springs, Struts, Stabilizer Bars, Trailing Links, #3 Engine Mount
    Kartboy Stabilizer Bar Bushings; Nyloil Shifter Bushings; Red Line MT-90 Gear Oil
    MP3 Shifter, Knob and Aluminum Pedal Set
    Suvlights HD Wiring Harness; Osram Night Breaker H4 Bulbs; Exide Edge AGM Battery
    Summer: 5Zigen FN01R-C 16 x 7" Wheels; Yoko S.drive 205/45-16s
    Winter: Enkei OR52 16 x 7" Wheels; Falken Ziex ZE-912 205/45-16s
    Modified OEM Air Intake; Racing Beat Exhaust System; Techna-Fit SS Clutch Line
    Denso SKJ16CR-L11 Extended Tip Spark Plugs; Magnecor Wires
    Power Slot Front Brake Rotors; Techna-Fit SS Brake Lines; Hawk HPS Pads
    Red Line Synthetic Engine Oil; C/S Aluminum Oil Cap
    Cyberdyne Digital Gauges: Tach; Ambient Air Temp; Voltmeter

    #2
    Mille Miglia brand rings can be had from TireRack for about 20 bucks per set of four...

    Also, it depends on the type of rim you have on the style of retainer used for the ring.

    On Goldstar's rings, they are designed with the rim, so that the mounting surface of the rim is fully flat only with a ring installed.

    Other rims have a full flat mounting surface already, so that style of ring will not work. The rings that DO work in that scenario are generally held in by a small wire circlip in a groove.

    Front side of my SSR rims:


    Back side. you can kind of see the little retaining wire/clip.



    Basically, make sure you get a hub ring that will work for the wheel you use.

    --sarge
    Last edited by SgtRauksauff; 01-27-2010, 10:16 AM.

    Comment


      #3
      Obtaining Hub Rings

      Thanks for the heads-up Sarge.

      Excalibur is one manufacturer of hub rings, both aluminum and polycarbonate.

      An inspection of their website reveals the comprehensive range of sizes available. They don't sell direct but it's clear to me that according to their listed part numbers, the rings I received from Discount Tire (and pictured in post #1) were made by Excalibur. Note also that the rings are color-coded as function of their size although I don't know the range of colors employed.

      Selected Hub Ring Vendors
      Discount Tire: http://www.discounttiredirect.com

      Gorilla Automotive Products (polycarbonate only):
      The page you are looking for doesn't exist or has been moved.


      Lakeshore Wheel and Tire (polycarbonate only):


      1010 Tires: http://1010tires.com/hubrings.asp

      Tire Rack (Mille Miglia brand as previously noted): http://www.tirerack.com

      Happy Motoring!
      Last edited by goldstar; 01-27-2010, 11:11 AM.
      02 DX Millenium Red - The Penultimate Driving Machine
      MP3 Strut Tower Bar kit; Cusco Front Lower Arm Tie Bar
      MSP Springs, Struts, Stabilizer Bars, Trailing Links, #3 Engine Mount
      Kartboy Stabilizer Bar Bushings; Nyloil Shifter Bushings; Red Line MT-90 Gear Oil
      MP3 Shifter, Knob and Aluminum Pedal Set
      Suvlights HD Wiring Harness; Osram Night Breaker H4 Bulbs; Exide Edge AGM Battery
      Summer: 5Zigen FN01R-C 16 x 7" Wheels; Yoko S.drive 205/45-16s
      Winter: Enkei OR52 16 x 7" Wheels; Falken Ziex ZE-912 205/45-16s
      Modified OEM Air Intake; Racing Beat Exhaust System; Techna-Fit SS Clutch Line
      Denso SKJ16CR-L11 Extended Tip Spark Plugs; Magnecor Wires
      Power Slot Front Brake Rotors; Techna-Fit SS Brake Lines; Hawk HPS Pads
      Red Line Synthetic Engine Oil; C/S Aluminum Oil Cap
      Cyberdyne Digital Gauges: Tach; Ambient Air Temp; Voltmeter

      Comment


        #4
        good post goldstar.. being in the tire industry i see tons of nice wheels without hub rings. and the biggest complaint is . vibration. you can balance the tire/wheel combo till the cows come home and the same thing .. vibration.. they do make a difference. funny that you mention 1010 tires.. i used to work for them on the coast when they were volco tires.lmao.....

        Comment


          #5
          im very glad this was posted... i've never heard about them, and definately sound like a must
          1992 Ultra Blue Metallic EGT - The 'scort with no name - crap>reliable daily>rallycross prep>stage rally
          Featured in Rally Gearbox Magazine 3/1/11
          "There's a hierarchy of insanity in motor sports. Normal people think all racers are crazy. Folks who race sedans think people in open-wheel cars are nuts. People who race cars of any kind think motorcycle racers are absolutely off theirs meds. But there's one group that everyone agrees is made up of the most extreme, the most daring, and absolutely craziest people in racing - rally racers."

          Comment


            #6
            i really should get a couple of these for the wheels my slicks are mounted on
            Escort GTR -- 11.87 @ 117.6 mph -- 320 HP / 325 Ft. Lbs. @ 23 PSI
            ... The first FWD BG with a Toyota E153 transmission conversion in the USA!
            Looking for BP x Toyota E153 adapter plates? PM me or contact me on Facebook: Riel Performance Parts

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by tireboy View Post
              good post goldstar.. being in the tire industry i see tons of nice wheels without hub rings. and the biggest complaint is . vibration. you can balance the tire/wheel combo till the cows come home and the same thing .. vibration.. they do make a difference. funny that you mention 1010 tires.. i used to work for them on the coast when they were volco tires.lmao.....
              I didn't have hub rings on my low offset wheels, and even after losing some wheel weights, no vibrations. Case by case differences.

              I will have use 'em next year, for the hell of it, but really I didn't notice any difference. I still recommend them though.

              Comment


                #8
                I got a beautiful set of Italian "Dino" BBS copies, off an Acura, with Acura bores. So I spent a lot of time and effort to get rings. I think they were Gorilla and they were plastic. Set off down the road to try my wonderful new feets, came back and pulled the fronts for other work, and the rings had shrunk from brake heat and were seized to the hubs and loose in the wheels. But I ran them 'til fall two years ago, and past summer I rotated the wheels back to front. When I took them off to fit the winter shoes this year, those rings had done the same. Plastic rings suck!
                But even with melted rings, I have no vibrations of any sort at any speed. I am very picky about mounting wheels though, and always use a torque wrench and check frequently.

                FRM

                Comment


                  #9
                  the best hub rings to buy are made of aluminum . before installing them put some anti seize on the hub , so they don't get welded on from the heat . makes life a bit easier...

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Exactly as tireboy states above. As already mentioned, Discount Tire Direct sells aluminum hub rings.

                    Happy Motoring!
                    02 DX Millenium Red - The Penultimate Driving Machine
                    MP3 Strut Tower Bar kit; Cusco Front Lower Arm Tie Bar
                    MSP Springs, Struts, Stabilizer Bars, Trailing Links, #3 Engine Mount
                    Kartboy Stabilizer Bar Bushings; Nyloil Shifter Bushings; Red Line MT-90 Gear Oil
                    MP3 Shifter, Knob and Aluminum Pedal Set
                    Suvlights HD Wiring Harness; Osram Night Breaker H4 Bulbs; Exide Edge AGM Battery
                    Summer: 5Zigen FN01R-C 16 x 7" Wheels; Yoko S.drive 205/45-16s
                    Winter: Enkei OR52 16 x 7" Wheels; Falken Ziex ZE-912 205/45-16s
                    Modified OEM Air Intake; Racing Beat Exhaust System; Techna-Fit SS Clutch Line
                    Denso SKJ16CR-L11 Extended Tip Spark Plugs; Magnecor Wires
                    Power Slot Front Brake Rotors; Techna-Fit SS Brake Lines; Hawk HPS Pads
                    Red Line Synthetic Engine Oil; C/S Aluminum Oil Cap
                    Cyberdyne Digital Gauges: Tach; Ambient Air Temp; Voltmeter

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Personally I don't see the advantage of aluminium hubrings. I've yet to see a plastic hubring damaged or worn to the point of not serving its purpose.

                      Depending on cost, I would consider it a nicety, but not a necessity, to go aluminumiuminum.

                      Comment

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